Black History Month
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the great achievements and commemorate important Black heroes and events throughout our history. It’s also a time to reflect and raise awareness of racial and ethnic disparities across all the health care sectors.
There’s always more work to be done, and the Global Healthy Living Foundation is committed to continue this work through honoring, amplifying, and uplifting the experiences of those living with chronic illness in the Black community.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ve dedicated this space to celebrating patients from the Black community who are helping to make a difference, bridging the gap and shining a light on health care disparities. Please take time to read through — and share their experiences this month and beyond.
Patient Profiles
Joshua’s Ulcerative Colitis Story: “I Didn’t Have a Lot of Exposure to What This Condition Was”
Read about one Black patient’s journey with ulcerative colitis, and how it took three years to finally receive a diagnosis.
Christele Felix’s Lupus Story: “This Is the Best I’ve Ever Been”
Christele Felix rises to the challenges of living with lupus and inspires others through her advocacy work with LupusChat.
Raven Miller’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Story: “I Found My Motivation”
Discover how Raven Miller, a single mom and creator of Raven Takes RA, has reached a place of balance, optimism, and strength.
Qasim
Profile Coming Soon
Jaime Sanders’ Migraine Story: Blogging to Empower Others
Learn how Jaime Sanders, “The Migraine Diva,” uses blogging as a way to share her journey and empower others toward advocacy and self care.
Shantana’s RA Story: “The Color of My Skin Shouldn’t Determine the Quality of Treatment I Get”
Shantana shares what it was liked to get diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a Black woman, and why she wants others to know her story.
Eula Moore’s Story: Veterans Coping with Migraine
A veteran from Blue Island, Illinois, shares how she started having migraine attacks during her time in the Gulf War.
Kevin’s Ankylosing Spondylitis Story: “My Life’s Not Over, It’s Changed”
Kevin shares his experience of getting diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis after a decade of symptoms.
Roz’s Ankylosing Spondylitis: My BackStory
Even with a strong family history of ankylosing spondylitis, Roz was misdiagnosed for decades.
18 Black Chronic Illness Patient Advocates Fighting to Change Equity in Health Care
These GHLF members with a wide range of chronic illnesses are sharing their stories and speaking up for fellow patients in marginalized communities who too often feel voiceless.
This Pfizer Scientist Helped Develop the COVID-19 Vaccine
When we think back to the start of the pandemic, we remember all the ways — big and small — our lives completely changed.
Reflections on Father’s Day and Parenting with Migraine
Qasim shares his lessons and challenges that he’s learned living with migraine and parenting (and grandparenting).
Health Care Disparities
Are People Dying from COVID-19 Because They are Black in America? An African American Cancer Survivor Speaks Out
If we are truly “all in this together” — as all the COVID-19 public health messaging would have you believe — we need to identify, examine, and solve this problem together.
Black Lives Matter – Why We Must Keep Showing Up for Racial Justice and Equality
We aimed to let our Black communities know that we see you, hear you, and support you.
Racism Is a Pandemic – A Statement from the Global Healthy Living Foundation
Now — more than ever — we must speak out against the institutional oppression and systemic disregard for black and brown lives in America.
Study: Black Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Have More Inflammation and Comorbid Conditions
An improved risk stratification and vigilance for early diagnosis and treatment of AS particularly in African American patients in needed.
Webinar: Racism in Health Care Why Should You Care
Learn more about the profound impact of racism in health care on people from the BIPOC community and what must be done to fix it.
Uneven Opioid Prescription Rates May Leave Black Patients Undertreated and White Patients Overtreated
New study found that white patients are more likely to be prescribed stronger doses of opioids than Black patients within the same health care systems.
BIPOC Patient Voices Living With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Managing a condition like psoriasis (PsO) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be challenging – and perhaps even more challenging for Black, Indigenous, People or Color (BIPOC).
Navigating Black Hair and Scalp Psoriasis
Treatments for scalp psoriasis often don’t account for the textures, hair care regimens, and styling techniques common among Black people. Here, solutions for advocating for yourself and finding relief.
Testing Covid-Positive: My Experience as a Black, Disabled, Immunocompromised Woman
I hope my story humanizes the experience of having COVID for people. We are people you know and love and we might die because you won’t wear a mask.
Podcast Episodes
Thriving While Aching, Beverly’s Story
Meet Beverly Rogers, a woman who grew up during the civil rights movement. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and shares how she used her experience to advocate for health care.
Wellness Evolution – It’s Just Hair – Or Is It? Respecting Your Crown
Learn about the bias in natural hair discrimination, and hair stigmas when growing up in mixed race and BIPOC communities as well as the physical and mental connection that many of us have with our hair.
Gut Culture – Are There Any Black People with IBD
In this episode we hear from gastroenterologist Dr. Florence Odufalu, and why she treats patients in ethnically diverse and underserved communities.
Let’s Get Personal, Alexis’ Story
Alexis talks about the importance of coming to terms with your diagnosis, doing your own research, and being persistent in your RA treatment and care.
Accepting a Helping Paw, A Conversation with Candace Camper
Candace, the creator of an Instagram account that documents her migraine journey, talks about how her service dog, Clea, helps her manage migraine and seizures.
Jaime Sanders, the Migraine Diva
Hear why Jaime calls herself the Migraine Diva, and how it touches everything from her migraine advocacy to the need for self-care.
#BlackMenHaveMigraineToo
When you think of migraine many of us don’t think of or see Black men. Meet Qasim Amin Nathari, who takes us on his migraine journey while getting deep about the intersections of race, masculinity, and faith.
TikTok Migraine Doc
Sarah Shaw and her doctor Courtney White, MD, discuss the need to educate the medical profession on the many symptoms of migraine so they can better serve patients in the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities
The Psoriatic Arthritis Club, Diane’s Story
As a woman of color who grew up poor, Diane endured decades of inadequate treatment, misdiagnosis, and stigma.
Don’t Let Them Gaslight Your Health
Meet Catina Morrison, who is using her own experiences living with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis to teach others how to overcome stigma.
Becoming a Health Advocate Through Grief
Rashaunda Shaw became a health advocate when her mother and sister were both hospitalized and dying. Now, she’s turned her grief into purpose.
Black, Queer, and in Pain
Sarah Reneé, a patient advocate, shares her experiences of navigating migraine care as a person in various marginalized communities.