In times of uncertainty, I lean in to community and envisioning better days
I have tried to write a post on uncertainty several times but then I stop. I do my best to be present and to ground my experiences in positivity, but these recent months have been feeling increasingly challenging. It seems like several times a day some new and concerning report comes out from federal public health agencies and physicians and leading patient care organizations scramble to mitigate the damage. My community members and the workers that our community relies on are scared to work because of fear of being abducted. Y’all, I cannot keep up! It’s too much and the damage to our children and future generations to come is just too much. As a community pediatrician. I want so much more for myself, my family, my patients, and our country. I am sickened by the fact that the United States spends the most money on healthcare expenses (mostly due to administrative costs), has the most billionaires in the world, and the highest infant and maternal mortality and morbidity yet we are the only high income country with no publicly funded healthcare system, no universal living wage, and no guarantee of housing. Our country has the fewest doctors per person and even if we continue to work extremely hard, many to the point of burnout, our work will do little to change things if it is not supported by fully funded public changes.
Every single week I am hearing from patients and community members who are confused and worried. Each week I am in conversations with other medical providers who are seeing their patients cut back on their health care expenses while getting less and less of the care they deserve and need.
In times like these, I find it helpful to envision beyond the tough times to what we really need. It is not incremental changes, it is fundamental change. When I was a premedical student, I learned about dangerous health disparities and sadly they are worse and more entrenched today than ever before.
During this time of uncertainty, like many others, I am asking what my role is. As an entrepreneur, a problem solver, a mama, a mentor, a caring community member, where are my unique skills the most needed? Where is my voice the most useful? I am praying and meditating on that. I expect some major changes to come in how I use my voice over the coming weeks. I am leaning into the whispering of the universal wisdom that has always guided my practice as a community health worker and public health professional.
For the last several years, I have made major decisions based on indigenous principles of interconnectedness and so that things will be better for my children and seven generations to come. My guiding ethos is based on the belief that James Baldwin expressed best “if I am hungry, you will never be safe.” In the world’s richest country with outposts around the world, let us focus on providing the fundamental needs of the people above all else. It will result in healthier people, healthier children, less violence, and less trauma.
As a community pediatrician and mama here is what I would love to see and what I am fighting to get for my family, my patients, and our country:
PHYSICAL HEALTH:
Universal access to a caring and competent primary health care provider in your community who has the time and resources to prioritize your holistic, preventative primary medical care that includes all reproductive and sexual health (note: I did not say health insurance, I’m talking about access)
Universal access to urgent and emergency medical care
Universal access to holistic, preventative dental care
Universal access to urgent and emergency dental care
Access to high quality, affordable food in your community that is mostly plant based
Federal food policy that supports high quality, nutrient rich foods over calorie-laden, poor nutrient food
Universal living wage
Guaranteed paid parental and caregiver leave
Guaranteed safe, healthy, and beautiful housing for all
MENTAL HEALTH:
Universal access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive group mental health care that focuses on practical skills, self care, and resiliency
Universal access to individual mental health care when group therapy is not enough
One of my favorite quotes is displayed on my family’s fireplace mantel. It says “If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” I will continue to work with my patients and community because my health is bound up with theirs. I expect big sweeping changes and more uncertainty. I am here. You are here. We are community. We are our best thing. Our people have weathered storms like these before and we are equipped with new resources, skills, and tools that they have imparted us with and more than they ever could have imagined. In times of uncertainty I dig deeper into community. We have our solutions. We can envision more for ourselves and our children. Let us go higher. Let us continue to find and revise our voices and our service.
Come, let us work together.
In health, happiness, and peace, J