When Dr. Uché Blackstock was a student at Harvard Medical School, she didn’t learn about racial health disparities or the history of racial violence that mark the field of medicine. It wasn’t until years later, while working in an urgent care in Brooklyn, that Dr. Blackstock was moved to investigate the history of healthcare in America. Now, as a health equity advocate and author of the New York Times bestseller ‘LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine,’ Dr. Blackstock is on a mission to dismantle racism in healthcare.

On this week’s episode, Dr. Blackstock speaks to the alarming racial disparities in the American healthcare system and the historic roots of these inequities. Together, Dr. Blackstock and Leah reckon with the past and discuss how we can work towards a more equitable future. She also tips on advocating for yourself as a patient the next time you’re at the doctor.

If you liked this episode, your next listen should be this one: How to Forgive Better with Philosopher Myisha Cherry

Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn and follow Dr. Uché Blackstock on LinkedIn.