Bridging Health Divides
Published 02/26/2024 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written
by Elizabeth Abatan |
02/26/2024
During my time in London, I had the opportunity to explore the city, its healthcare systems, and history. Through this journey of gaining a diplomatic perspective, I created partnerships and collaborated with others to determine what healthcare looked like in the UK and how it differed from the US.
Through this, I was able to see alignments between the Milken Institute's mission and my experience. I also had the opportunity to observe how the Milken Institute has been at the forefront of several issues that many people tend to ignore when it comes to healthcare. The unique opportunity to explore the city of London allowed me to see how evolving landscapes can aid in global finance and its detriments to the financial system impacting society.
The Milken Institute places a strong emphasis on the significance of innovations and thus aids in contributing to the economic growth of society. Throughout my time in London, I witnessed how vibrant entrepreneurship can come about through the markets and local startups, gaining insight into how the economy thrives on these innovations. These developments oftentimes lead to interconnections through global economies, this reinforces the mission of crossing borders to collaborate for sustainable development. A significant learning experience I had in London revolved around the Milken Institute’s mission in health and education. I was able to explore sectors of education, health, finances, and even politics that revealed their profound impact on society. Globally, the healthcare field is suffering from healthcare worker shortages. As a future Orthopedic Surgeon, I gained an understanding of how the healthcare field differs by region, thus fostering a holistic perspective on how to improve the lives of others through the understanding of finance, health, and education.
Visiting the Royal College Museum of Physicians in London allowed me to understand the process of becoming a medical professional as an international student. I collaborated with people and discussed ways in which private and public healthcare have had diverse effects on society. The shortcomings of the NHS in addressing these issues undermine its fundamental objective of providing quality care for all. Efforts to rectify these disparities are essential to ensuring equity and I hope to be able to soon have a voice in the rooms for these changes to occur for people of color who aren’t always heard or understood in medical environments.
The scarcity of access to healthy foods plays a pivotal role in perpetuating racial health disparities within the NHS, resulting in elevated rates of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Limited transportation options for nutritious food and medical care further amplify this perpetuating cycle. These challenges, deeply rooted in historical injustices, place a substantial burden on the healthcare system and the minorities suffering in it. Moreover, cultural unawareness within the NHS contributes to significant challenges, particularly in cultural disconnects arising from language barriers. Since the majority of people in the UK who do not speak English come from minority backgrounds, it is evident that when healthcare workers and patients face difficulties communicating due to language barriers. The exchange of crucial information becomes compromised and hinders the patient's choice to make accurate decisions for treatment plans and diagnosis which gets more complicated due to societal stigma in specific communities. Individuals who do not speak English may face societal prejudice or an expectation to learn the language.
Despite the noble intentions, the NHS is grappling with a persistent challenge: racism. This issue manifests in various ways: racial biases by healthcare providers, cultural unawareness, patient treatment disparities, non-inclusive preventative measures, and lack of individualized care. These issues present challenges such as an increase in birth rate mortality among minorities, cultural disconnects between patients and their providers, and inadequate resource allocation seen through food deserts. The additional lack of individualized care creates a rift in the NHS (undermining) goal to achieve equality and equity in all healthcare outcomes.
The issues within the UK's National Health Service reveal a complex web of challenges, especially regarding racial disparities and barriers. Despite aiming to provide quality healthcare for everyone, issues like racial biases, cultural gaps, unequal patient treatment, and a lack of personalized care persistently hinder its goals from being reached. From difficulties in accessing translation services to economic disparities, the NHS faces many challenges disproportionately affecting minorities, leading to health inequalities and higher mortality rates in these communities. Cultural barriers, like language differences and stoicism, hinder effective communication and care, while budget cuts and austerity lead to underfunding, impacting minority communities. Brexit also contributed to discrimination against international healthcare workers and disrupted diversity initiatives (BBC). The UK and the US emphasize disparities regarding birth outcomes to an extent. Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach, including policy changes, cultural competency training, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. I have learned the importance of promoting equity and ensuring fair treatment in can guide the healthcare system toward a more inclusive and equitable future, benefiting the patients and healthcare providers in doing their jobs (Parliment Publications).
Being a first-generation American, I have seen some of these same issues in America, and many other Milken Scholars can relate to these same issues. Being able to have the funding and family within the Milken Institute to combat these issues and be at the forefront of the changes needed in the medical field globally is something that I am truly grateful for. On the same pillar of the Milken Family Foundation striving to advance and aid people have productive and satisfying lives, my journey to London was focused on enhancing the quality and experience of medical aid for people to ensure that their care is prolonging their lives as well as quality care. I will continue to embark on endeavors that aid in my diplomatic perspective and bring them into the spaces the Milken Family Foundation has provided to Scholars like me. Milken has been a part of my blueprint and also within the medical field through multiple institutions and I can bring my knowledge from abroad and incorporate it into the spaces with other Milken medical leaders. Thank you for being a part of one of many medical journeys that I will embark on as a young medical leader hoping to influence the world.
1) Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. (2023, May 24). Overweight Adults. GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures. https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/diet-and-exercise/overweight-ad ults/latest/#:~:text=white%20British%20adults%20were%20more,mixed%20(59.5%25)%20ethnic%20groups
2) Women and Equalities Committee. (2023, April 18). Black Maternal Health. UK Parliament. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/94/report.html
3) Wright, C. (2010, September 3). NHS “Failing Those Who Don’t Speak English.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-10951417
4) Hostetter, M., & Klein, S. (2021, October 18). Confronting Racism in Health Care. Proclamations to New Practices | Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2021/oct/confronting-racism-health-car e
Through this, I was able to see alignments between the Milken Institute's mission and my experience. I also had the opportunity to observe how the Milken Institute has been at the forefront of several issues that many people tend to ignore when it comes to healthcare. The unique opportunity to explore the city of London allowed me to see how evolving landscapes can aid in global finance and its detriments to the financial system impacting society.
The Milken Institute places a strong emphasis on the significance of innovations and thus aids in contributing to the economic growth of society. Throughout my time in London, I witnessed how vibrant entrepreneurship can come about through the markets and local startups, gaining insight into how the economy thrives on these innovations. These developments oftentimes lead to interconnections through global economies, this reinforces the mission of crossing borders to collaborate for sustainable development. A significant learning experience I had in London revolved around the Milken Institute’s mission in health and education. I was able to explore sectors of education, health, finances, and even politics that revealed their profound impact on society. Globally, the healthcare field is suffering from healthcare worker shortages. As a future Orthopedic Surgeon, I gained an understanding of how the healthcare field differs by region, thus fostering a holistic perspective on how to improve the lives of others through the understanding of finance, health, and education.
Visiting the Royal College Museum of Physicians in London allowed me to understand the process of becoming a medical professional as an international student. I collaborated with people and discussed ways in which private and public healthcare have had diverse effects on society. The shortcomings of the NHS in addressing these issues undermine its fundamental objective of providing quality care for all. Efforts to rectify these disparities are essential to ensuring equity and I hope to be able to soon have a voice in the rooms for these changes to occur for people of color who aren’t always heard or understood in medical environments.
The scarcity of access to healthy foods plays a pivotal role in perpetuating racial health disparities within the NHS, resulting in elevated rates of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Limited transportation options for nutritious food and medical care further amplify this perpetuating cycle. These challenges, deeply rooted in historical injustices, place a substantial burden on the healthcare system and the minorities suffering in it. Moreover, cultural unawareness within the NHS contributes to significant challenges, particularly in cultural disconnects arising from language barriers. Since the majority of people in the UK who do not speak English come from minority backgrounds, it is evident that when healthcare workers and patients face difficulties communicating due to language barriers. The exchange of crucial information becomes compromised and hinders the patient's choice to make accurate decisions for treatment plans and diagnosis which gets more complicated due to societal stigma in specific communities. Individuals who do not speak English may face societal prejudice or an expectation to learn the language.
Despite the noble intentions, the NHS is grappling with a persistent challenge: racism. This issue manifests in various ways: racial biases by healthcare providers, cultural unawareness, patient treatment disparities, non-inclusive preventative measures, and lack of individualized care. These issues present challenges such as an increase in birth rate mortality among minorities, cultural disconnects between patients and their providers, and inadequate resource allocation seen through food deserts. The additional lack of individualized care creates a rift in the NHS (undermining) goal to achieve equality and equity in all healthcare outcomes.
The issues within the UK's National Health Service reveal a complex web of challenges, especially regarding racial disparities and barriers. Despite aiming to provide quality healthcare for everyone, issues like racial biases, cultural gaps, unequal patient treatment, and a lack of personalized care persistently hinder its goals from being reached. From difficulties in accessing translation services to economic disparities, the NHS faces many challenges disproportionately affecting minorities, leading to health inequalities and higher mortality rates in these communities. Cultural barriers, like language differences and stoicism, hinder effective communication and care, while budget cuts and austerity lead to underfunding, impacting minority communities. Brexit also contributed to discrimination against international healthcare workers and disrupted diversity initiatives (BBC). The UK and the US emphasize disparities regarding birth outcomes to an extent. Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach, including policy changes, cultural competency training, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. I have learned the importance of promoting equity and ensuring fair treatment in can guide the healthcare system toward a more inclusive and equitable future, benefiting the patients and healthcare providers in doing their jobs (Parliment Publications).
Being a first-generation American, I have seen some of these same issues in America, and many other Milken Scholars can relate to these same issues. Being able to have the funding and family within the Milken Institute to combat these issues and be at the forefront of the changes needed in the medical field globally is something that I am truly grateful for. On the same pillar of the Milken Family Foundation striving to advance and aid people have productive and satisfying lives, my journey to London was focused on enhancing the quality and experience of medical aid for people to ensure that their care is prolonging their lives as well as quality care. I will continue to embark on endeavors that aid in my diplomatic perspective and bring them into the spaces the Milken Family Foundation has provided to Scholars like me. Milken has been a part of my blueprint and also within the medical field through multiple institutions and I can bring my knowledge from abroad and incorporate it into the spaces with other Milken medical leaders. Thank you for being a part of one of many medical journeys that I will embark on as a young medical leader hoping to influence the world.
1) Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. (2023, May 24). Overweight Adults. GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures. https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/diet-and-exercise/overweight-ad ults/latest/#:~:text=white%20British%20adults%20were%20more,mixed%20(59.5%25)%20ethnic%20groups
2) Women and Equalities Committee. (2023, April 18). Black Maternal Health. UK Parliament. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/94/report.html
3) Wright, C. (2010, September 3). NHS “Failing Those Who Don’t Speak English.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-10951417
4) Hostetter, M., & Klein, S. (2021, October 18). Confronting Racism in Health Care. Proclamations to New Practices | Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2021/oct/confronting-racism-health-car e