Messages like this are my reminder of important it is to create content about healthcare disparities!
In the United States, a patient's race used to be taken into account in the evaluation of their kidney disease.
For Black patients a multiplier was added to the Glomerular Filtration Rate that increased a patient's GFR.
Studies showed that the calculation potentially overestimated GFR in some patients, making it less likely for treatments to be recommended to Black patients as compared non-Black patients.
One study estimated that 3.3 million more Black Americans would have been diagnosed with a higher stage of chronic kidney disease.
Thankfully, a new equation has now been created AND as of January 2023 if you were a Black patient that had the race adjusted GFR equation, you have the potential to now have your wait-time adjusted. #racialbiasinmedicine #healthcare #joelbervell #medicine #doctor #healthequity #series #publichealh #stem #gfr #kidney #hiddenhistory #stem
Calm background music with acoustic guitar and saxophone(1288148) - ame
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I’m sharing clips from my interview with Kelly Clarkson that I think were impactful! Here’s Kelly introducing me, and a story about cyanosis, a condition where the skin turns blue, and how that led me to start posting on TikTok to amplify disparities that I was seeing in medical school. #joelbervell #medicalmythbuster #kellyclarkson #kellyclarksonshow
joelbervell
8376
·2024-3-27Pinned
Representation Matters in Medicine. @visualdx created a catalogue of conditions for skin of color and it makes it easier for medical professionals to determine conditions on darker skin. #dermatology #acanthosisnigricans #skin #skincare #derm
joelbervell
150.7K
·2022-4-14Pinned
I was on television for one of my TikToks that went viral about a device called a pulse oximeter in Medicine that doesn’t work as well in darker skin! #pulseoximeter #medicine #doctor #nurse #healthcare #joelbervell
joelbervell
580K
·2022-12-6
A few days ago, I posted a video about how RFK was perpetuating false beliefs about biological differences between races. Almost immediately, people started bringing up sickle cell — so let’s clear this up. Is sickle cell a “Black disease?” I get this question all the time in my comments, and despite what popular media (like the SNL skit from last year that I mention in this video) may suggest, the answer is no. Sickle cell isn’t race-based. It’s linked to ancestry and geography, specifically regions where malaria is or was common. But racializing diseases like this has real consequences, from delayed diagnoses to inadequate treatment. Let’s talk about sickle cell, malaria, and why these misconceptions continue to exist.
joelbervell
461
·2h ago 
A few weeks ago, I posted a video from RFK’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services, where he falsely claimed that Black people have stronger immune systems and should receive different vaccination schedules. Comments flooded in agreeing with this misinformation—but here’s the truth: race is a social construct, not a biological fact. This kind of pseudoscience has long fueled racial disparities in healthcare, from false beliefs about pain tolerance to race-based adjustments in lung and kidney function. These myths don’t just distort science—they harm real people. Let’s myth bust.
joelbervell
2330
·2d ago 
Measles was nearly eliminated, yet misinformation is fueling its return. With RFK Jr as Health Secretary, vaccine policies are shifting. Now more than ever, we need to support evidence-based public health. Call your representatives and advocate for science. #VaccinesWork #publichealth
joelbervell
180
·3d ago 
A New York doctor is facing criminal charges for providing abtn pills to a Louisiana resident—marking the first case of its kind. This sets a dangerous precedent, allowing politicians to reach beyond their own states to control medical decisions. If this stands, it won’t stop at abtn. It’s about whether science, patient autonomy, and the doctor-patient relationship survive.
joelbervell
334
·4d ago This chemist is the reason we have treatmetns for glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis, but have you heard his name? Welcome back to episode 19 of Woke Black History. Let’s talk about Percy Julian! Everyday this month I’m posting a new video about a Black change maker from history. Make sure to tune in, share, and follow along! At a time where these stories are being suppressed, it’s more important than ever to share.
joelbervell
414
·5d ago