Saturday morning at 8am on WCLK's The Local Take I speak with Dr. Thaddeus Bell about his organization Closing the Gap in Healthcare. Throughout the Spring, you have heard Dr. Bell's health vignettes on WCLK throughout the day.
I ask Dr. Bell why he decided to create this non-profit organization and for a definition of exactly what is the "gap." He speaks to his 14 year mission to decrease health disparities in our community via education. He speaks to our need to improve our health literacy so that we understand what physicians are prescribing and explaining.
In order to advocate for your own health, Dr. Bell explains that we have to educate ourselves about our bodies. I ask about the cultural challenges in our community where families tend not to share health challenges. He speaks about lack of access, socio-economic factors and racism as factors that drive health disparities.
He also shares that lack of health literacy is one of the main causes of health disparities. Additionally Dr. Bell shares that the lack of African-American healthcare providers from physicians, to therapist and nurses is another reason that disparities exist.
Closing The Gap in Healthcare is the main sponsor of the LowCountry Jazz Festival that takes place Labor Day Weekend in Charleston, South Carolina. The festival is Closing The Gap In Healthcare's largest fundraiser, proceeds of which go to provide scholarships to African-American students at Medical University of South Carolina. Information on the LowCountry Jazz Festival can be found here.
For more information on Dr. Thaddeus Bell
For more information on Closing The Gap in Healthcare
To sign up for the Closing The Gap in Healthcare newsletter
The Local Take with Kiplyn Primus features discussions about critical issues facing Atlanta and profiles of organizations doing important work in the communities served by WCLK. As public broadcasters it is part of our mission to engage with the community and feature people and issues that aren't always covered by mainstream, commercial media outlets.