Archive for health equity
Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns: BabySeq 2.0
Today, nearly 900 disorders caused by a single gene are known to be treatable. Yet the recommended “heel stick” testing for newborns only covers about 60 inherited, treatable disorders, and many individual states screen for fewer. What if newborns could instead have their entire genome sequenced at birth, with the results shared and acted on ... Read More
Advancing mother-child health globally: Grace Chan MD, MPH, PhD
First in an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Globally, five million children die annually before the age of 5. Forty percent of these deaths are in the first month — and many are preventable. Grace Chan, MD, MPH, PhD, finds these numbers unacceptable. They contrast starkly with U.S. medicine, including at Boston ... Read More
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of hope
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for many things: justice, non-violence, hope. Even in the face of violent resistance, his belief in a better future inspired a movement that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. How does Dr. King’s message of hope ... Read More
Care in the classroom: Children’s behavioral health in schools
If you want to address children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health, go to where the kids are — in schools. This straightforward idea is at the heart of the Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships (BCHNP). The program and its team of 17 psychologists and social workers bring behavioral health services and training directly to schools, ... Read More
Diversity and inclusion: Lessons from the field
Having led workplace diversity and inclusion work for more than a decade, Rich Robles witnessed a dramatic shift in the conversations he was having about the topic two years ago. After the events of 2020 brought national attention to health and justice inequities, questions about why an organization would need a diversity and inclusion strategy ... Read More
Widespread recognition of Juneteenth carries the hope of change
For African American and Black employees of Boston Children’s, the mainstream acceptance of Juneteenth is a promising step toward national healing. It was only last year that June 19 — “Juneteenth” for short — became a federal holiday, giving all Americans an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of slavery, the civil rights movement, and race ... Read More
Contributing to every level of care: Our Asian American and Pacific Islander community
People come to Boston Children’s Hospital to receive care from some of the best clinicians in the world. Yet the safe, nurturing environment that greets patients and families is the work of an extensive team. The Environmental Services team, for instance, works tirelessly to ensure every area of the hospital remains clean and welcoming. The ... Read More
Shining a light on the SPF gap: Why sun protection is so important for children of color
With summer just around the corner, it’s important to understand the risks that come along with those long, hot days in the sun. It’s also important to recognize some pretty dangerous misconceptions about sun protection — namely that Black children and other children of color don’t need to worry about skin protection and skin cancers. ... Read More
United in diversity: Our Asian American and Pacific Islander community
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders contribute to patient care at Boston Children’s Hospital in virtually every way. Many work directly with patients as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Many contribute to care as researchers, lab technicians, and food service workers. Some work behind the scenes in human resources and administration, and some help maintain a safe, ... Read More
Climate and children’s health: A conversation with Dr. Aaron Bernstein
When Boston Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Aaron Bernstein was in medical school, he was told that climate change — an interest of his since 7th grade — belonged in the realm of politics, not medicine. One professor told him flat out, “You’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” But another professor ... Read More