What is the healthcare gap?
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, in one of his speeches in 1968, that the greatest civil rights issue of the 21st century would be major disparities in health care for African Americans and the underserved. His prophecy is alive...
Brothers, Please Talk to Your Family
Recently, a 42 year old African American male traveled to a family reunion by car after deciding not to fly. He arrived after a three day drive, collapsed, and died. His family learned that he was on dialysis and never knew that he...
Mental Illness Lost in a 21 st Century Twilight Zone
I have concluded that the discussion of mental health issues has been lost in a modern twilight zone. Historically, African Americans are less likely to openly discuss their mental issues and those of family members and close...
Does Race Matter?
I have been a physician for 37 years and am close to ending my medical career. It has been a privilege for me to have practiced in many medical settings that include rural health centers, penal health systems, military medicine, the...
It Is Imperative for Diabetics to See a Dietician
Diabetes continues to greatly affect the African American community and it is not disappearing. You are a candidate for a diabetic workup if you are overweight, have a family history, and are sedentary. Diabetes, controlled early, can result in fewer complications...
Tragedy Continues
You should be aware that death from medications used to treat chronic pain is of epidemic proportions in our society. The accidental death of Prince has made this very clear. Patients in South Carolina are not immune from this problem and physicians in the state are...
Brother, Brother, Brother, There’s Far Too Many of You Dying
You may remember the hit, “What’s Going On,” by Marvin Gaye and the lyrics, brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying, if you are old school. The song, in many ways, portrays what is happening to us today. We are dying too soon. Our young black men...
The Kidney
Kidney failure, a major health disparity in South Carolina, is not often discussed and is a problem that few African Americans understand. One would understand the reason renal failure is high among African Americans in the state if the myths and untruths circulating...