Advancing Black medical professionals to improve health equity

Advancing Black medical professionals to improve health equity

Officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, Black History Month serves as a time to acknowledge and celebrate the essential achievements of Black Americans across all time periods in the U.S. The concept of dedicating time to educate the public about the often-forgotten accomplishments of Black Americans was first introduced…

COVID-19 stories from the front lines: Vaccine and therapeutics development for diseases with pandemic potential

COVID-19 stories from the front lines: Vaccine and therapeutics development for diseases with pandemic potential

According to Christopher da Costa, MD, PhD, FIDSA, there is very little in medicine that’s quite as exciting as infectious diseases. The unpredictability of an outbreak of a highly contagious infectious disease that could emerge without warning is fascinating – and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no exception.   With more than 20 years of clinical practice experience and over 15 years of experience working predominantly in vaccine and infectious diseases therapeutics clinical development for…

Dr. Virginia Banks headshot

COVID-19 stories from the front lines: Shining a light on health equity and mental health

In April 2020, Virginia Banks, MD, MBA, FIDSA, was giving a talk on COVID-19 to the National Association of Black Journalists chapter in Cleveland, Ohio, when a question stopped her in her tracks: “Are you aware of the disparities in COVID-19 cases among African American and Latino populations?” they asked.   An infectious diseases specialist in Youngstown, Ohio,…