For this month’s We are the World Blogfest, I’ve chosen to spotlight the Director of the White House’s Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force.
Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, who is an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine, has a huge task in front of her as she addresses disparities related to the pandemic and how people are treated for the illness.
You can read about Dr. Nunez-Smith and what she hopes to accomplish HERE and HERE.
Nunez-Smith focuses her research on “promoting health and health care equity for structurally marginalized populations. You have to show up. You have to listen. You have to learn. And you have to be humble with equity work. Communities are the experts in what they need.”
It is today’s science and medicine that will keep the world turning and its people healthy, and I’m pleased that Dr. Nunez-Smith is part of this community and working to alleviate inequality in how treatment is provided.
“I imagine a future for our children and their peers, where they look back at this time with historical interest, like: ‘Oh my goodness, can you believe the pandemic ravaged communities differently? That would never happen now! That’s what I want them to inherit.” I want our task force to work ourselves out of a job.”
The “We are the World” Blogfest is in the fourth year of a heartfelt journey. The blogfest’s goal is to spread the message of light, hope and love in today’s world. We are challenging all participants to share the positive side of humanity. This month’s co-hosts, Shilpa Garg, Simon Falk, Damyanti Biswas, Lizbeth Hart and Eric Lahti welcome participants and encourage all to join in during future months. #WATWB is a blog hop on the last Friday of every month. Click HERE to check out the intention and rules of the blogfest and feel free to sign up at any time. You are always welcome!
Mary J Melange 
This is such an important topic, Mary. There is nothing more important than healthcare, and there should be no differences in the degree to which it’s available. When she puts herself out of a job for the pandemic, she can focus on all the other areas where care is disproportionately doled out.
I believe Marcella will do great things in her career, Dan. The future must hold equality in healthcare and she is one of many in this field who can held make it so. I wish her the best during her tenure at the White House.
All good wishes to Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith for her aim to make health care equitable for all. She’s got the cojuns to make this happen … I just hope that she has people behind her to get this into action. One day the time will come when health care professional will be paid for the health of their communities which is practised in some parts of the world I believe. Great post and pretty inspiring!
I’ve always thought how sad and unempathetic it is that healthcare is focused around individual and company profit rather than the patients in many cases. I hope Marcella can be part of an effort to begin change in how illness is treated fairly, with compassion and without concern of the almighty dollar.
A most interesting woman with a wonderful mission. I can only hope she makes a positive impact with her sensible approach to creating equity. Very inspiring.
I hope she fulfills her mission, Ally. That would be a huge benefit to all who need decent healthcare.
Every time I look too closely at the US healthcare system, it enrages me. Insurance that only works in some places, astronomical prices, a whole host of things that seem designed to keep people poor and desperate. We completely screwed up the Covid response under Trump. It’s good to see someone trying to do something right. I just hope we’re not too far gone for anything good to get done.
I know, Eric. Our healthcare system is too controlled by those who are only interested in dollar signs, like pharma companies. When Scott Walker became our Governor and there were protests at the capitol because he wanted to get rid of the union, people complained that state employees had it too good, that we had too many benefits. I kept thinking why are you mad at us and not mad at the system that prevents YOU from having the same benefits. That is what I want for this country, for everyone to have the same chance at good healthcare without having to pay an arm and a leg for it.
I never did get the “Those guys have it better than us, let’s tear it down so they’re miserable, too” argument. Even changing jobs is massive PITA because insurance changes and that means finding new doctors or accepting the fact that your insurance won’t cover the new doc because reasons. It’s nuts. And even crazier is people will push back on any attempt to fix things.
What a wonderful goal for our youth – a future of equality in healthcare. Years ago I worked for BCBS when they were still a not-for-profit company. We knew back then what the shift to a profit company would mean.
I’m hopeful for the future in many areas, Maggie, but healthcare is especially important. If only we could take the profit out of it and simply take care of one another.
That would be the best of all possibilities.
Thanks so much for this spotlight, Mary J. What a wonderful kindness-filled face she has. Hugs on the wing.
Yes, a face we can trust to do a great job and carry on the fight for healthcare. Hugs, Teagan!
It is tragic that people suffer differently through illness especially one that was such a great leveller as Covid. I’m glad Dr Nunez-Smith is working hard on this. It is the same in India, where the government’s careless policies towards the poor have needlessly increased the suffering, deaths and apprehension, should they get sick without adequate healthcare, no health insurance and an anti poor bias that inherently believes that the lives of the poor have less value.
It is a terrible shame how our systems treat the poor so unfairly. Human life is human life and governments should be respecting the value of it. I’m glad Dr. Nunez-Smith is trying to fix this issue in the U.S.
Great post! I truly believe that Dr. Nunez-Smith has such a shining career ahead of her and I am so glad health equity is finally being addressed! Thanks so much for sharing this and for being a part of #WATWB! Hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂
You’re welcome, Belinda. I was very glad to share Dr. Nunez-Smith’s story and her passion for equality in healthcare.