Maternal Health and COVID-19 featuring Dr. LaTonya Washington, MD, MBA; Kanika Harris, PHD, MPH and Kineta Sealey, Esq.

The American healthcare system has a history of ignoring the health and wellness needs of Black women. Time and time again, African American women experience negative health outcomes, whether it be related to pregnancy and birth or other health related experiences. Research and statistics have revealed that this issue of poor health outcomes for Black women is a unique product of medical racism and discrimination in the United States, not a result of genetic difference between Black women and women of other races. Knowing all of this information, the question remains, what can be done to reconcile these health disparities being faced by so many African American women? This episode of Black Doctors Speak will explore these timely, complex issues that Black women are facing. Dr. LeNoir is joined by a number of guests on this episode to discuss these important topics. Firstly, we hear from Dr. LaTonya Washington, President of the Bluff City Medical Society, which has worked for decades to eradicate health disparities. Dr. Washington & Dr. LeNoir engage in an informational discussion on why the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities, and the importance of receiving the COVID vaccinations. Next, Dr. LeNoir is accompanied by Dr. Kanika Harris, a health equity strategist, birth justice advocate and expert on maternal health from the Black Women's Health Imperative, as they explore a number of topics related to the health of Black women in America. The Black Women's Health Imperative is dedicated to fighting for the health equality of Black women, and this episode of Black Doctors Speak will give insight into the issues being faced by Black women, including COVID-19, maternal health and more! This episode also features Kineta Sealey, Esq. who works as the policy counsel for the Black Women's Health Imperative. She shares some details with Dr. LeNoir about legislation which would advocate for and protect Black women's health, and discusses how things such as climate change can exacerbate inequality in health outcomes.