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Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 2:47 PM
"Smooth seas does not mean skillful sailors..."- Chinese proverb
The other day a colleague and I struck a conversation about my work at the health department. I have always held this person in high regard because of their work over the past two decades in the mental health field. To my surprise, I was asked: "Is minority health really a problem in the United States?...I was never aware..."
I used this as an educational opportunity, reminding him of the many disparities that exist between minorities and whites in the targeted disease states, especially mental health- this person's field of expertise.
This person lives in the heart of the central city, where some of the greatest disparities exist, and works in a field where it is has been well documented that disparities exist...I was scratching my head and pondering what has been going on in this person's professional life for the past twenty years?
It is up to us to educate our friends, professional and otherwise; the person was proof that just because one works in a field (and live in an area of town) where health disparities exist, it doesn't mean they are always aware of them.
We have spoken twice since, offering more opportunities to enlighten about a fight many of us have been involved in for quite some time now.
MHC
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