Do you know that only 3.6% of the currently practicing Physician Associates/Assistants (PAs as they’re commonly called) are black? In this episode, our hosts Nia Phillips PA-C talks about a wide range of medical topics covering pediatrics and the role of pediatricians and black PA's caring for children. 

Exploring the journey of how Nia got into the specialty of pediatrics, this episode gradually dives deep and answers questions about the PA profession, the differences between being a pediatrician and a PA, what does the work of these professionals look like day in and day out. The conversation further continues and touches upon the topics of educating a parents or caretakers on what are the things that can and should be done to safeguard the health of their children and why this is more of a collaborative effort between the clinicians and parents/caretakers. Nia also answers some of the pressing medical questions that parents often have when trying to navigate their pediatricians office, emergency department and urgent care office when faced with a sick or injured child.

Later in the episode, the hosts also discuss the types of disorders that children of color often face the most, what are the factors that one should consider before choosing a pediatrician office, and some of the red flags that are to be avoided while doing so.

If you are a parent or the caretaker of a child or expecting to become one soon, you don’t want to miss listening to this episode!

Timestamps:

• 02:58 Black history fact.
• 06:19 Nia's Journey and introduction.
• 07:35 How Nia got into pediatrics
• 12:01 What would encourage more black students to take up pediatrics/get a PA degree?
• 16:01 What are the differences/similarities between working as a pediatrician or a PA in rural versus urban settings?
• 21:01 What is a physician assistant(PA)?
• 27:40 What advice do you find yourself giving to parents often?
• 31:45 What necessitates going to the office vs urgent care vs ER?
• 38:05 Pediatric concerns that are impacting children of color or interventions that play out differently in communities of color?
• 46:44 Should parents or caretakers interview pediatricians? How soon is too soon?
• 50:28 Red flags while interviewing pediatricians.
• 53:36 Aspects of being a pediatrician/PA that most people don’t know about?
• 56:30 Lightning round getting to know the host Nia

Did you know that, 65% of all pregnancy related deaths are preventable? 90% of deaths related to pregnancy related hemorrhages are preventable and that black women are 243% more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Amutah-Onukagha, the Julia A. Okoro Professor of Black Maternal Health in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Amutah currently researches maternal health disparities, reproductive health and social justice, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDs in Black women.

Dr. Amutah is a best-selling author with over 45 manuscripts, 5 book chapters, and a textbook on culturally responsive evaluation, also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Women’s Health Issues. She is a TedX speaker—her work has been featured in The Atlantic and The Lancet. Dr. Amutah is the Founder and Director of the Maternal Outcomes for Translational Health Equity Research Lab, (MOTHER), a lab that has 35 students ranging from undergrad to postdoc with the goal of adressing maternal health disparities as experienced by Black women.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:03:08] The controversy surrounding The Royal Family’s trip to the Caribbean countries.
• [00:07:35] Welcome Dr. Amutah to the show.
• [00:11:15] Dr. Amutah shares her Ted talk on how the system is broken and how healthcare and racism impact maternal health.
• [00:11:55] The latest data from CDC shows that our rates for preventable deaths are getting worse and the inequity gap is getting wider.
• [00:12:20] Dr. Amutah’s personal experience with loss and how it has shaped her trajectory.
• [00:13:54] How the assignment on your life is bigger than you and that no matter what you are doing, your calling will always pull you back in.
• [00:15:00] Why Dr. Amutah’s job in the healthcare industry is to hold it accountable and to train the next generation.
• [00:17:44] The most important decision that you can ever make is who you trust with your care.
• [00:23:29] The importance of having a support network and why having a doula should be a must for every pregnancy.
• [00:27:22] Dr. Amutah discuss her research study, Be A Mom Study and how important it is to find community led solutions to medical needs.
• [00:29:00] Black Maternal Health Week and why it is important that there are more black midwives in the field.
• [00:31:17] Dr. Amutah discusses actionable steps to change the current maternal mortality statics.
• [00:35:10] Is it possible to untrain racism and biases with culturally competent trainings?
• [00:42:40] How we can hold the world accountable for black maternal health. Why it is important to be selective with who we vote into power and why it is important that more black women are elected into leadership positions.
• [00:49:25] Why you have to be intentional about carving out time for yourself and the importance of self-care.

Links mentioned: Black Mothers Matter Tufts 

Let's talk about relationships!

This episode highlights our very own Eboni Gadson MSW, LSW. Eboni studied psychology at St. John's University in Queens, New York. When she's not working with individuals and couples at The Princeton Center for MindBody Healing, you can find her leading discussions about sexuality, trauma, healthy relationships, and how healthcare practitioners can provide more affirming care.

Eboni and I sit down to discuss all things relationships and answer your questions about monogamy, polygamy, and marriage. We also examine therapy options for individuals and couples exploring these topics. Lastly, we have some engaging dialogue about break-ups and dealing with many types of infidelity that can occur in a relationship.

You don't want to miss this one!

Episode Highlights:

• [00:03:10] Black History was made when Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark decided to marry. Learn about this dynamic power couple and their contributions to the field of psychology and history.
• [00:06:08] Get to know our very own Eboni Gadson, MSW, LSW
• [00:08:08] Relationships can contribute to significant life changes. Eboni and I discuss how individuals and couples can manage the emotions of maintaining a relationship, children, dealing with intimacy issues, and much more.
• [00:08:58] Breaking up is hard to do, but did you know that there are tools available to minimize emotional grief?
• [00:16:44] Eboni explains the process of Discernment Therapy.
• [00:22:21] Finding a therapist of color can be daunting. Finding a sex therapist of color to discuss your sex life feels impossible! Listen as Eboni, and I share strategies to get the help you need.
• [00:24:14] How to advocate for yourself in therapy, knowing when to change providers, and resolving concerns - we always bring you insight on your rights as a patient.
• [00:26:45] What is Healthy Conflict Resolution and what does it mean to "Strike While The Iron Is Cold." - Eboni shares her perspectives on creating healthy habits in your relationship.
• [00:37:05] What are treatment goals in a therapy setting, how do they hold you and your medical provider accountable? Eboni breaks it down for us.
• [00:41:23] Fun Fact: What are Eboni's red flags and deal breakers when dating?