Webinar: COVID-19's Disproportionate Impact on Black Americans
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Dr. Toni Miles' slides
Ms Bettye Mitchell's slides
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on black Americans. They are more likely to have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the disease. Black people are less likely to have regular health insurance and have lower access to testing. In addition, they are likely to experience more severe complications from the infection.
See this report COVID-19: Investing in black lives and livelihoods by McKinsey and Company.
This webinar will examine the racism inherent in our health care system, the societal factors that impact the health of black Americans, how and why this leads to racial disparities in health outcomes of people with COVID-19, and then focus on solutions and actions that can be taken now and in the future.
When: May 22, 2020 at 12:30
PANELISTS
Toni Miles, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the College of Public Health, University of Georgia
The death of someone who is important in your life can cause you to become ill. Bereavement care builds resilience and decreases the probability of illness. The African American community in the U.S. suffers disproportionately from grief-related illness. Dr. Miles leads a multi-part study of burden of illness in populations experiencing loss and grief. The goal of this work is improving delivery of bereavement care. The project has led to a national survey of loss in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). She is also author of the book: Health reform and disparities: History, Hype, Hope. ABC-Clio Publishers. It is based on her work with the U.S. Senate Finance committee staff writing the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Her blog: Public Health in a longevity society provides extensive background on health disparities and loss. In August 2020, she will conduct two workshops on bereavement care for the Texas HHS Long Term Care Online Conference.
Developed the CMS Bereavement Care Toolkit, designed to help residents, their family members, and nursing home staff cope with death.
Steven Starks, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine
His interests lie in understanding the cultural and social effects of mental health conditions on patients, families and communities. He has designed programs that integrate mental health practice into home-based care, long-term care and primary care practice settings to ensure individuals with mental health and substance use disorders receive compassionate and effective psychiatric care and treatment.
He serves UH College of Medicine departments of clinical services and behavioral and social sciences with roles in education, curriculum development and community partnerships. He has a passion for mental health advocacy and serving individuals and communities that have been marginalized and made vulnerable by social and institutional factors. He has completed formal trainings in both health equity and health policy and has directly engaged in the federal legislative process as a Health and Aging Policy Fellow and American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow.
Bettye Mitchell, MA
Director of Area Agency on Aging of East Texas
Bettye Mitchell, MA, is a nationally recognized leader in organization and program development, leadership, management, training, aging, protective services, elder abuse, and cultural diversity. She currently serves in dual roles for the East Texas Council of Governments as the Director of Aging Programs for the Area Agency on Aging and as the Housing Director of the East Texas Council of Governments. Bettye has proven leadership in designing and managing large complex programs and strategic planning. A dynamic, results-oriented executive who can coordinate efforts of consumers, advocacy groups, service providers, and state and federal agencies to improve the lives of persons growing older and with disabilities. Ms. Mitchell has extensive knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the delivery and of long-term care programs, and adult protective services. Mitchell has 40 plus years’ experience in providing strong leadership with programs serving Older Americans and persons with disabilities, developing training programs, curriculum development, and training.
Winner of the 2018 Leadership in Aging Award by the Aging in Texas Conference
Interviewed for The Civil Rights in Black and Brown Oral History Project
MODERATOR
Danica Sumpter, PhD, RN
Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas School of Nursing
She has taught at the UT Austin School of Nursing since 2012. She has taught child health and teaches a course about teaching. In her time at UT she has realized a love for all things “teaching and learning.” In her current role as chair of the Family, Public Health and Nursing Administration Division at the UT Austin School of Nursing, faculty development has become an ideal way to channel this passion.
Her clinical experiences and those of her students continue to highlight the persistent health inequities in America, especially for people of color. She is currently most passionate about elevating her consciousness and those she interacts with as a first step to dismantling institutionalized racism and improving the health outcomes of marginalized groups in America. She has helped spearhead the faculty/staff book club at the UT Austin School of Nursing to create a brave space for conversations about race and racism. She has also been instrumental in the facilitation of the annual school wide movie night where films such as “13th” and “White like me” have been viewed and used as a launching point for conversations about race and racism for faculty, staff and students.
In addition to being an active member of her church and mom to two amazing kids, she is a member of the health sub-committee of the Black Mamas Community Collective and co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the UT Austin School of Nursing. Though the work can be overwhelming and tiring, she just tries to find her piece of the wall to begin dismantling wherever she is planted. She stays motivated by keeping in mind that systems of oppression gain their power from silence, so she must keep talking.
Presented by the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long-Term Care, represented by
Tiffany Ricks, PhD, RN
Dr. Ricks received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013. Her research interests are focused on health disparities and the health promotion experience of young African Americans over the life course. She currently works as a research scientist for the Seton Healthcare Family where she supports executive nurses, network nursing leaders, and nursing staff in developing relevant research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and process improvement initiatives. She enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and three children.
Resources
Report: COVID-19: Investing in black lives and livelihoods by McKinsey and Company
