As we wrap up April — during which  we observed National Minority Health Care Month and spotlighted Black Maternal Health — I am personally reflecting on the health disparities for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities, as well as the ways we, in and outside of the medical field, can help decrease gaps in access and delivery of care. 

Some of the critical barriers and inequities that can exist for people of color include lack of access and transportation to comprehensive care near where they live; historical mistrust and fear of the health care system; and delays in getting critical health screenings — all of which can lead to negative health outcomes.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that people of color were at a higher risk of getting sick and passing away from COVID-19 in part because of these inequities. It is also important to recognize that many of these challenges were present before the pandemic and are still very real, as people of color are dying at a higher rate, and Black women are disproportionately dying in childbirth and pregnancy. 

As a Black woman who is a family medicine and urgent care physician, I am acutely aware of these challenges and am passionate about finding ways to decrease health inequities for people of color, reshaping and prioritizing the delivery of health literacy, and advocating for more diversity and representation throughout the medical field. 

Improving health care outcomes and addressing the gaps in health care for the BIPOC community cannot be accomplished by anyone alone, nor solely within a traditional clinical setting. This became even more apparent to me during the pandemic. 

I knew that we as a collective community needed to find different approaches to ensure that BIPOC and underserved communities had access to timely, accurate and accessible information about the virus. As part of this effort, I often shared with patients why I personally trusted the vaccine, sought to debunk misinformation they shared with me, and and affirmed why people of color had a historical mistrust of public health—  long before 2020. 

Representation and building trust were key. Collaborating with leaders inside and outside of the healthcare system, we were able to create new opportunities to deliver health literacy beyond clinical walls. These opportunities included partnering with colleagues in the medical field and also with local pastors to create faith and health informational sessions, organizing vaccine clinics at churches, and speaking with UNR and UNLV student athletes about the benefits of the vaccine. Together, we worked to deliver information in these communities, in their safe zones, in order  to help keep people informed and in the hope that they would feel comfortable asking any questions they had about COVID-19. 

These are just a few examples of the collaborative efforts that happened throughout Nevada. Though some progress has been made, it’s important that all Nevadans continue to prioritize prevention; invest in health literacy; find and share information about trusted health care providers; and be vocal advocates for health care. Our health is considered the most precious commodity, and inequities and disparities in health care can affect everyone. Ultimately, we all have the power to help push healthcare systems to improve access, fight mistrust and improve equality.

Moving forward, I am hopeful that the momentum and difficult conversations that have arisen from the struggle and conflict escalated by the pandemic will continue to spark meaningful change to improve health care for everyone in Nevada and the U.S. 

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, M.D., M.S., is a board-certified, family medicine physician practicing urgent care physician based in Reno, where she serves as regional clinical director for Carbon Health and medical director for Saint Mary’s Medical Group. Dr. Curry-Winchell is also a member of the Reno mayor’s task force and Governor’s Medical Advisory Team on COVID-19.