DETROIT – The Detroit Medical Center is hosting a symposium to shed light on the experiences of Black women in healthcare on Friday, April 12.
It might be hard to imagine, but in this day and age, there are women who still feel unheard by doctors. And if those women are Black, they are less likely to trust the medical profession and seek it out for care, and that has an incredibly serious impact on the health of pregnant black women and their unborn and newborn babies.
DMC has lots of adorable little babies, including one who was born at a magical 3/13, at three pounds and thirteen ounces. His mom really does a courageous job explaining why more people need to lean into the healthcare disparities with Black women and their babies.
Gender, race and culture biases exist and have been exposed by numerous published and peer-reviewed studies in the medical industry. This week, Detroit Medical Center is actively trying to change things, specifically for Black mothers and their babies, in a first-ever Black Maternal Health Week Celebration.
It is not only touting its own programs, in which a maternal nurse navigator has been added to the staff to help mothers with complicated pregnancies, but also its Mother’s Closet at Sinai Grace and a new Dula-friendly environment. Friday’s symposium will explore its own responses to Black women who are pregnant while educating Black women in particular on how to spot bias and navigate around it.
The event held at DMC’s Hutzel Women’s Hospital will feature women discussing their treatment candidly.