In healthcare scenarios, the ideas of “wrong” or “failure to comply” often translate to victim-blaming Black patients. With stereotypes, there is no room for personalized treatment approaches because there are blinders that prevent some providers from seeing individual humanity as opposed to generic and preconceived ideas. I see the role of public health as a platform of empowerment for patients. Public health communicators can mobilize communities with messaging that teaches them to speak up for themselves when it may be a matter of life and death. 

I’m incredibly transparent about about my cancer survivorship, but if you had asked me years or even months ago whether I saw myself on a stage speaking about patient advocacy, I likely would have said no. But when the call came, I answered—and I’m just getting started.

The Uterine Care Collaborative is thrilled to announce its official launch, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to empowering Black women and improving uterine health. Uterine Care Collaborative is a shared learning space and community hub that aims to use current research and an evidence-based approach to address the unique challenges faced by Black women with uterine health issues.

Empathy is being able to easily put yourself in someone’s shoes. Sympathy is showing concern, but not necessarily being able to relate. Being a public health communicator for a gynecologic cancer non-profit organization and being a five-year survivor of uterine cancer, I find myself straddling an interesting dichotomy: being both on the inside looking out and the outside looking in. How can we reckon with diverging perspectives?

Public health communication is not just about sharing information; it’s about connecting with people in ways that teach and inspire change. Communication strategies must always evolve and this kind of constant innovation involves risk. How can we remain human-centered in our approach, especially when addressing the needs of marginalized communities?