Dr. Oni Blackstock: Learning from the HIV Epidemic How Community Can Check Public Health and Pharma

What can today's healthcare system learn from the HIV epidemic? In this episode of Octavia's Cure, host Dr. Stella Safo speaks with Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care and HIV physician, founder of Health Justice, and former Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, about what worked, what it took to build it, and how community held public health accountable along the way. Dr. Blackstock shares hard won lessons on shared leadership, the difference between optimism and hope, and why being called out and doing the repair work is essential to building lasting trust. This conversation moves beyond critique into a real model for how community, public health, and industry can hold each other accountable and move forward together. If you've ever asked what IS working in healthcare, and how we can learn from it, this episode offers real answers grounded in decades of hard fought progress.CreditsOctavia's Cure is a production of Just Equity for Health. This episode was hosted and executive produced by Dr. Stella Safo. Creative direction and production by Amanda Misiti. Post-production by Simon Cowart. Digital content by Devon Johnson. For more information, visit octaviascure.com.Octavia's Cure is inspired by, but is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Octavia Butler estate. Cover art and video intro art inspired by Nettrice Gaskins.