Credit: UcheBlackstock.com
At the intersection of racism and medicineThe big idea: Imagine an America in which seven HBCUs were devoted to graduating Black medical doctors during the 20th century, instead of the two (Howard University and Meharry Medical College) there were during most of that time. Five Black medical schools closed after the Flexner Report, written in 1910 and sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation, attacked the schools’ facilities and training. The largest of them, Leonard Medical School, shut down in 1915.What would that America have looked like? What would the landscape of care for Black patients have looked like? For Dr. Uche Blackstock, reckoning with those questions is something she does frequently, according to a conversation she had on-air recently with WURD’s Dr. James Peterson.The numbers: “It’s estimated if those five medical schools had remained open, they would have trained between 25,000 and 35,000 Black physicians,” Blackstock told WURD. “… I thought about … the impact that those tens of thousands of physicians would have had on our communities. Tens of thousands of Black physicians who may have trained maybe thousands more, saving who knows how many lives.”Today there are four medical schools with significantly Black student bodies: Howard, Meharry, Morehouse School of Medicine and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine and Morgan State University College of Medicine are expected to open soon.From the source: Blackstock says she was motivated to highlight racism in U.S. healthcare after the death of her mother, who also was a physician, writes Kiara Santos for WURD. The things Blackstock learned and her hopes for a healthier future are in her book, “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine.” There’s more at WURD Radio →
Credit: Chris Allen / Black Voice News
What to know about the viruses currently circulatingThe big idea: We’ve written about this before, but it’s worth mentioning again that you should be aware of these respiratory viruses floating around. Remember these names: Avian flu or bird flu; norovirus; and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Brianna Reeves of Black Voice News warns us about each — and they’re all extremely unpleasant.Bird flu can cause red eyes, runny noses, headaches and fatigue. Norovirus can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Respiratory syncytial virus is a major reason for hospitalization of children younger than a year old.(And you haven’t forgotten Covid-19, have you? Because that’s definitely still around, too.)The numbers: The first case of bird flu in humans in the U.S. was detected in October 2024. By the end of the year, there were 37 cases in California. There are about 2,500 outbreaks of the highly contagious norovirus each year, according to the CDC. And this winter’s virus season, which includes RSV, is more severe than at any time since the lockdowns in 2020, said a virologist at the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University.From the source: Key ways to limit transmission of avian flu: Stay away from dead wild birds, drink pasteurized milk and thoroughly cook your eggs to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To prevent norovirus, wash your hands more often, and for longer periods, with soap and water. Immunization is recommended to combat RSV, which usually causes a mild cold but can be much more severe in infants and the elderly. Get more details at Black Voice News →
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Exciting news about clean drinking water on reservationsThe big idea: Among the Biden-Harris Administration’s last deeds before handing the reins of power to the once and future President Donald Trump is to secure clean water for some Native populations. What the numbers say: The administration has set aside $700 million in fiscal year 2025 funding to improve drinking water and sanitation in Tribal Communities. The allocation is part of more than $3 billion set for the Indian Health Service through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, writes Kaili Berg for Native News Online. Nearly 15,000 Native households will benefit from the new funding allocation. Nearly 110,000 Tribal households will benefit from the overall Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by 2026.From the source: The IHS website provides more details about the projects funded by the law, including which tribes have been served, the number of households affected and the status of ongoing projects.Learn more at Native News Online →
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforminghealth outcomes in our communities
The story: Xianna Mouayang and Yeng Moua, a St. Paul, Minn., couple, met when they were in recovery from substance abuse. At their traditional wedding, they refused to have alcohol, a typical part of Hmong celebrations. As a result, several of Mouayang’s family members declined to attend. The couple didn’t let the conflict affect their recovery.
What happened next:
Last year, the two, along with Moua’s sister, Mai Moua, established Koom Recovery, a nonprofit named for the Hmong word for “join.” It provides support and education for Hmong people in the Twin Cities who need help with their own or loved ones’ substance abuse.
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Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal