As a young mom, my son was diagnosed with asthma. When he was only a toddler, I discovered that his asthma medication, Albuterol, was significantly less effective for him than his white peers. Albuterol is used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by asthma. It would allow my son to breathe more easily.
It was devastating, and honestly quite scary, for me to learn this treatment wasn’t providing the relief my son needed.
Black people are more likely to go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, undertreated, or offered less advanced treatment options than white counterparts.Â
The ineffectiveness of my son’s asthma medication was due to lack of knowledge. I needed more information and more direction about medical systems and effective treatments.
We now know that his asthma medication is about 47% less effective for black people.
I needed information about my own medical history that may have helped us uncover this information about my son even sooner. As someone who was adopted, I didn’t know about my own medical history. If I had more insight into the health journeys of my family members, that would help me ask better informed questions and research specific conditions.
Within the black community, we know how hesitant or fearful our family members, friends, loved ones and colleagues may be of the health care systems. We’re often hesitant to seek education or treatment.
Black people are more likely to go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, undertreated, or offered less advanced treatment options than white counterparts.
I fundamentally believe in changing the status quo. We want to change medical systems and how our community finds, discovers and takes advantage of ways to improve and maintain their health. We are dedicated to the black community, those of us who are often marginalized, forgotten, or treated as if they don’t matter.
I’m here to advocate for more diverse and inclusive medical professionals, services and treatments.
