Women’s Health, Adult and Pediatric Care
Broward Health Community Health Services
By Joy Oglesby
What figure in Black History would you most like to meet and why?
Angela Davis. Ms. Davis is one of the most tenacious women in African American culture. She is described as an academic, activist, feminist, scholar and a revolutionary. I personally identify with some these character traits and navigating them as an underrepresented minority woman can be a challenge. If I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Davis, I would seek her mentorship regarding embracing and nurturing those character traits to make positive change in my community.
What are you most proud of professionally or personally?
During my training at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, I received the Resident Award for Teaching Excellence. My peers, attending physicians and mentors, selected me, which was a humbling and proud moment in career.
Another professional accomplishment was spearheading the establishment of a Family Planning Clinic at the 7th Avenue / Cora E. Braynon Health Center. These services are provided in an effort to decrease maternal fetal mortality rates in the inner city, prevent unintended pregnancy and empower women of child bearing age to make the decision on the number and spacing of their pregnancies.
Why is it important to seek out diverse perspective in general and in healthcare?
Diversity matters because all cultural and ethnic perspectives should be represented and heard equally. As a woman of Afro-Caribbean descent providing medical services to a large patient population of Caribbean immigrants, my cultural competencies have helped me provide a higher quality of care. My knowledge base of the cultural, social and language needs of my patients help me to be more effective at my job as well as facilitate more positive outcomes for my patients.
Other thoughts you’d like to share about Black History Month?
Black History Month is a celebration of the societal contribution of leaders in the African American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro Latin and African Diaspora at large. These accomplishments are worthy of celebration. However, this month is also a time for introspection. As healthcare professionals, we can take this time to deepen our knowledge on the disenfranchisement of underrepresented minorities in healthcare, which is an extension of institutionalized racism. This knowledge may help clinicians find novel approaches to support better outcomes for their underrepresented minority patients.
