CRYSTAL: HI, EVERYBODY.

I'’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON A NEW U.N. REPORT IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON CLIMATE CHANGE WARNING WE WILL HIT THE POINT OF NO RETURN IN THE NEXT GATE IF WE DON'’T ACT FAST TO PROTECT OUR PLANET.

BOSTON'’S ENVIRONMENT CHIEF AND A PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH JOIN ME ON WHAT IT MEANS FOR HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND BEYOND.

AND MY CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'’S HOSPITAL ON HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB AND HOW HE IS ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MEDICINE.

IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY SPRING BUT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IT HAS NOT EXACTLY BEEN THE LONG COLD AND SNOWY WINTER THAT NEW ENGLAND IS KNOWN FOR.

THIS WINTER TIED FOR THE 2015, 2016 WINTER AS THE STATE'’S WARMEST ON RECORD ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.

BETWEEN DECEMBER AND FEBRUARY TEMPERATURES AVERAGED JUST BELOW 34 DEGREES.

UP NEARLY EIGHT DEGREES FROM LAST CENTURY.

RECORD-BREAKING WARM WINTER DAYS HAVE RAISED THE ALARM BELLS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND ARE PART OF A BIGGER MORE ALARMING TREND.

A NEW REPORT OUT OF THE U.N. IS ISSUING PERHAPS THE MOST DIRE CLIMATE CHANGE WARNING YET.

ESTIMATING THE WORLD WILL LIKELY SURPASS A DANGEROUS AND IRREVERSIBLE TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD IN THE NEXT DECADE.

THE REPORT WARNS THAT HEAT WAVES, DROUGHTS, WILDFIRES, FLOODING AND TROPICAL STORMS WILL BECOME MORE COMMON AND MORE EXTREME.

IN ADDITION TO WORSENING NATURAL DISASTERS, THE RISING TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO ACCESS OR AA NUMBER OF -- EXACERBATE A NUMBER OF HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND LIMIT ACCESS TO FOOD, WATER AND HOUSING.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO REVERSE THE TRENDS OR AS THE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL PUT IT -- HUMANITY IS ON THIN ICE AND THE HUMIDITY -- AND ICE IS MELTING FAST.

CRYSTAL: THERE IS STILL SOME TIME LEFT TO ACT.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM BECOMING A REALITY AS A COUNTRY, AS A CITY AND AS EVERYDAY CITIZENS?

TO DISCUSS THIS I AM JOINED BY REVEREND MARIAMA WHITE-HAMMOND, BOSTON'’S CHIEF OF ENVIRONMENT AND OPEN SPACES AND PATRICK KINNEY, A PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

REV.

WHITE-HAMMOND: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CRYSTAL: I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

THIS IS THE MOST DIRE WARNING U.N. HAS PUT OUT.

BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MATTER OF ONE OR TWO DEGREES BUT THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT.

FASTER KINNEY: THE EXTREMES ARE WHERE THE IMPACTS ARE.

AS YOU NOTED THIS PAST WINTER HAS BEEN EXTREME FOR US AND WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT IS REALLY A TREND THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING THE LAST 50 YEARS APPEARED SCIENTIFICALLY WE CAN SEE THE TREND AND THE DATA BUT NOW IT IS BECOMING TANGIBLE.

I THINK THIS REPORT -- A SERIES OF REPORTS BUT THIS LATEST ONE IS THE MOST DIRE AND STRIDENT IN ITS IMPACT I HOPE.

THE URGENCY IS GREAT.

I HOPE THIS REPORT GETS PEOPLE'’S ATTENTION AND HELPS US DOUBLE DOWN ON THE ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

CRYSTAL: WHAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE PARTICULARLY STOOD OUT TO YOU?

YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DATA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT THIS PARTICULAR REPORT I IMAGINE HIGHLIGHTED SOME AREAS WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON.

PROF. KINNEY: THERE ARE MANY.

LOCALLY WE EXPERIENCE EXTREME HEAT IN THE SUMMER TIME CAUSING EXCESS MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY.

WE HAVE DONE SOME STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO EXTREME HEAT.

SOMETHING LIKE 12% OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS IN THE SUMMERTIME ARE CAUSED BY EXTREME HEAT NATIONWIDE.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS WE ARE SEEING.

THE REPORT ALSO EMPHASIZES THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ARE GENERALLY THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LEAST RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

THERE IS AN IMPORTANT EQUITY ISSUE AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ISSUES INVOLVING THE CLIMATE BUT ALSO THE RISING HEAT ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THIS IMPACT RECENTLY?

REV.

WHITE-HAMMOND: I GREW UP IN BOSTON AND I LIVED ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF AN OLD HOME WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING.

AS A YOUNG PERSON I REMEMBER RELYING ON THAT SMALL FAN BUT IT IS THINGS LIKE -- I DON'’T FEEL LIKE MY PARENTS COULD SUSTAIN THEMSELVES WITHOUT HAVING AIR CONDITIONING UNITS BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE AT THEIR AGE, THEY ARE HEALTHY FOLKS BUT THE REALITY IS OUR SENIORS AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE FOLKS HAVING THE HARDEST TIME BEING ABLE TO REGULATE TEMPERATURES.

WE HAD A GRANDMOTHER COME AND TESTIFY AT ONE OF OUR HEARINGS.

A GRANDMOTHER FROM CHINATOWN WHOSE GRANDDAUGHTER FAINTED.

SHE SAID THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

I'’M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO WORRY THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTER CANNOT BE OUTSIDE.

THE EFFECTS ARE TANGIBLE.

FOR EVERYBODY.

PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTSIDE FOR INSTANCE ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE.

FOLKS WHO HAVE ANY KIND OF HEALTH CONDITIONS OR PARTICULARLY RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS WHICH UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF COVID-19 YOU ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LONG COVID SYMPTOMS.

THE REALITY IS THE EFFECTS ARE NOT JUST MORE DESERTS IN NORTHERN AFRICA.

THE EFFECTS ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY I GREW UP IN ONE OF OUR HEAT ISLANDS AND I LIVE IN ANOTHER ONE OF OUR HEAT ISLANDS.

I'’M THANKFUL AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE TO HAVE CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING BUT I KNOW WHAT IT IS NOT TO HAVE THAT IN FOR SOME OF OUR IMMUNITIES THAT CAN LITERALLY BE A MAJOR HEALTH THREAT AND DRIVE PEOPLE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE MOST EXTREME CASES LEADING TO PEOPLE DYING YOUNGER THAN THEY HAVE TO.

CRYSTAL: I WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE HERE IN THE BAYSTATE FROM MASSACHUSETTS AND A 2018 TO 2022.

YOU CAN SEE FROM 2018 TO 2022 WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 49.5 DEGREES IN 2018.

THEN THAT RISING TO 50.4 DEGREES WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIFIC RANGE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEGREES BUT THE IMPACT ENDS UP BEING LARGER.

AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY HAS RUNG THE SPELL BEFORE AND MANY TIMES.

PROF. KINNEY: YEAH, THAT IS FOR SURE.

THE SCIENTIFIC UNITY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR DECADES AND IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING HOW SLOW THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN PEERED OVER THE LAST DECADE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY PROMISING AT THE LEVEL OF CITIES AND REGIONS SHARED BOSTON HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LEADERS IN CLIMATE ACTION AT LEAST SETTING GOALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION.

FEDERALLY IT HAS BEEN MUCH SLOWER UNTIL RECENTLY WITH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WHICH WAS A CLIMATE ACT IN MANY WAYS.

THERE ARE SOME TRENDS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE.

I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN ACT QUICKLY OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR SO AS THIS REPORT IS TELLING US WE NEED TO TO AVERT THE WORST CONSEQUENCES.

DURING OUR LIFETIMES IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE BUT IS GOING TO BE ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN.

WHAT WE DO NOW WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

CRYSTAL: I'’M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HOW THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IS REALLY A CLIMATE MATTER AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INTEREST RATES TODAY AND THE FED RAISING THEM.

PROF. KINNEY: I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO HEAR THE NEWS PEERED HOW MUCH DO THEY RAISE THEM BY?

CRYSTAL: YOU'’RE PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT A LITTLE BIT BUT THEY ROSE THEM TO SOME DEGREE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND THE CLIMATE.

PROF. KINNEY: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT HAS A LOT OF INCENTIVES FOR GOING GREEN IN TERMS OF REDUCING FOSSIL FUEL BURNING, INCENTIVES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING, INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT SORT OF THING.

IT MIGHT SEEM IRONIC IN A WAY WE ARE SUGGESTING PEOPLE MOVE TO MORE ELECTRICITY BECAUSE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED USING FOSSIL FUELS BUT MORE AND MORE WE ARE GETTING OUR ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.

CHEAP SOLAR ELECTRICITY IS BECOMING WAY MORE AVAILABLE.

THE MOVE TO ELECTRICITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT IS GOING TO REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY OR AS IMPORTANTLY LOCALLY THE AIR QUALITY IS GOING TO IMPROVE AND THAT IS GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HEALTHIER.

CRYSTAL: MY CRACKERJACK TEAM WERE ABLE TO LOOK IT UP.

IT IS A QUARTER OF A PERCENT SO THE FED RAISED INTEREST RATE A QUARTER OF A PERCENT AND THAT IS DESPITE ALL THE OTHER MITIGATING FACTORS.

WE DO KNOW THAT TONIGHT.

REVEREND MARIAMA WHITE-HAMMOND, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS AND WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

I'’M ALWAYS THOUGHTFUL WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION NOT ONLY OF THE HEAT ISLANDS BUT OF THE SEAPORT AND THE RISING WATER OF THE SEAPORT.

REV.

WHITE-HAMMOND: SO I THINK WE HAVE -- BOSTON HAS THE FOURTH -- IS THE FOURTH MOST FUNDABLE CITY CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE 47 MILES OF COASTLINE.

ALL ALONG EACH STRETCH WE HAVE DONE THE WORK TO MAP WHERE OUR FLOOD PATHWAYS ARE AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO CLOSE THOSE PEERED IN SOME INSTANCES WE HAVE GOTTEN STARTED.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT PLACES WE OWN THE LAND.

IF YOU GO TO THE NORTH END, THAT IS A PARK WE OWN AND WE USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF REDESIGNING THE PARK TO RAISE THE SEAWALL BUT ALSO TO MAKE THAT A BASEBALL FIELD AND BOCCE COURTS SO PEOPLE WILL ENJOY IT BUT IT IS ALSO PROVIDING THEM PROTECTION FROM SEA LEVEL RISE.

GOING BACK TO THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, THE REALITY IS WHAT THIS IPCC REPORT IS IS WE NEED A FULL ECONOMY T TRANSFORMATION AND WE NEEDED IT YESTERDAY BUT WE HAVE TO DRIVE TO IT TODAY WITH URGENCY.

I THINK PART OF WHAT MAKES -- MAYOR WU IS PART OF THAT YOUNGER GENERATION THAT HAS GROWN UP WITH THE REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEY ARE SAYING TO US WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION NOW BECAUSE WE ARE -- IT IS GOING TO BE EVEN WORSE FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT EVEN GUARANTEED THE KIND OF BASIC SECURITY THAT WE HAVE COME TO RELY ON.

THIS QUESTION OF HOW DO WE TRANSFER OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR ECONOMY IS DRIVEN BY FOSSIL FUELS.

KEEP BEING DRIVEN BY FOSSIL FUELS WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

THAT IS WHAT THE REPORTS TELL US.

WE ARE HEADED TO AN UNIMAGINABLE AND DANGEROUS FUTURE.

I THINK ONE OF THE EXCITING PIECES OF THAT IS THAT FULL ECONOMY TRANSFORMATION IS AT THE HEART OF THIS IDEA BEHIND THE GREEN NEW DEAL.

THAT WE COULD ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME WE TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY AND IN DOING SO WE CAN LIFT UP MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ECONOMY AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.

JUST YESTERDAY WE HAD A PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN BOSTON WHICH REPLICATES A PROGRAM STARTED IN PHILADELPHIA THAT IS TAKING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SOME OF OUR MORE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS, DORCHESTER, ROXBURY AND TRAINING THEM IN CUTTING EDGE GREEN JOBS.

THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO WHAT THEY CALL SMART BUILDING TECHNOLOGY.

HOW DO YOU REALLY INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING SO IT NEEDS LESS ENERGY?

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS USING RENEWABLE ENERGY BUT THE FIRST WAY TO ADDRESS OUR CLIMATE CRISIS IS TO USE LESS ENERGY AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT ENERGY IS AS GREEN AS POSSIBLE.

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH SOME FOLKS AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WHO HAVE A POWER CORE INTERN THERE LEARNING HOW THEIR BUILDINGS WORK AND HOW THAT YOUNG PERSON CAN BE PART OF THIS GREEN REVOLUTION AND MAKE SURE THE BUILDING IS AS EFFICIENT AS IT POSSIBLY CAN BE.

THAT IT IS TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN THEY NEED TO.

THAT IT IS MAKING SURE THE HEATING AND COOLING MATCH WHAT IS NEEDED AND NOT THOSE SITUATIONS MANY OF US EXPERIENCE ESPECIALLY AS WOMEN WHERE WE ARE WEARING A PARKA JACKET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITION IS TOO HIGH.

THEY'’RE ALL OF THESE WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS THIS CRISIS IN A WAY THAT LIFTS UP COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS IN NEARLY THE SAME WAY AND MAKING SURE THEY CAN ENTER THE ECONOMY SO WE ARE NOT CHOOSING BETWEEN ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THOSE TWO THINGS ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TOGETHER.

CRYSTAL: PROFESSOR KINNEY, WHEN PEOPLE ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS EFFECT CHANGE IN MY CARBON FOOTPRINT, RECYCLE MORE, WHAT CAN A PERSON AT HOME DO WATCHING THIS TO HELP REVERSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE CLIMATE?

PROF. KINNEY: TO TAKE THE GREATEST ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AS AN INDIVIDUAL WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO REDUCE OUR OWN CARBON FOOTPRINTS AND THAT MEANS STOP BURNING AS MUCH FOSSIL FUELS.

THE ACHIEVABILITY OF THAT AMBITION VARIES.

SOME THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE TO DO.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING A GAS POWERED CAR, TRYING TO SEE HOW YOU CAN GET AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A BIG BENEFIT.

REV.

WHITE-HAMMOND: OR TAKE THE T. PROF. KINNEY: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS ANOTHER THING AND WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR THE T TO TRANSFER ALL OF ITS FLEET TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES INCLUDING THE COMMUTER RAIL BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF POLLUTION BEING GENERATED BY THOSE VEHICLES.

BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO THOSE VEHICLES IS A GOOD THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT EVEN WITH FOSSIL FUEL BECAUSE YOU BURN A LOT LESS IN A BUS THAN YOU DO DRIVING URINE VEHICLE.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CONVERSION TO ELECTRICITY.

ALSO IN THE HOME HEATING.

YOU'’RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE OUR HOMES TOWARDS ELECTRIC AS WELL WHICH IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE ECONOMICALLY AS WELL AS A TECHNOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE AND THERE ARE SOME INCENTIVES IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FOR CONVERTING TO THESE HEAT PUMPS WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO DO.

HOMEOWNERS CAN DO THAT HERE I THINK TENANTS NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR LANDOWNERS TO DO THAT AS WELL.

THE NEED TO BE MORE INCENTIVES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN QUICKLY.

IT HAS TO HAPPEN FAST OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

CRYSTAL: I THINK THE T PIECE IS SO IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THE T TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, TO RUN ON TIME FRANKLY AND TO BE A RELIABLE SOURCE SO FOLKS CAN USE THAT RATHER THAN DRIVE INTO THE CITY AND HAVE THOSE ISSUES.

I THINK ABOUT THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY WORK, REVERENT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A RELIABLE T AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS WHAT EVERYDAY FOLKS WHO MAYBE DON'’T HAVE THE INCOME TO PURCHASE A ROOT -- AND LETTERING VEHICL -- IN A LETTER VEHICLE.

REV.

WHITE-HAMMOND: I TAKE IT MOST DAYS.

WE ALL NEED TO BE TOGETHER ADVOCATING FOR THE RESOURCES T NEEDS TO FUNCTION WELL FOR US ALL.

I DO WANT OFF OF ANOTHER OAKS CAN DO.

IF YOU ARE A BOSTON RESIDENT, WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED BOSTON COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP YOU NOT JUST GO GREEN BUT SAVE YOU MONEY.

THE STANDARD RATE IN THE CITY -- ABOUT $.25 A KILOWATT HOUR.

100% GREEN ENERGY IS ONLY $.14 A KILOWATT HOUR.

WE NEGOTIATED THOSE RATES IN A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.

WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER SWITCHING OVER TO COMMUTER TO CHOICE ENERGY AND IF YOU ARE ALREADY ON COMMITTED TO CHOICE ELECTRICITY THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER OPTING UP.

THE STANDARD RATE IS $.11 AN HOUR AND THAT IS 30% GREEN.

WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE OF US WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO $.14.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED THE LOWEST THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE MONTH THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN A 100% GREEN ENERGY PROGRAM, YOU CAN FIND THAT -- YOU CAN CALL 311 UNDER THE CITY OF BOSTON.

WE CAN FIND AT BOSTON.GOV/BCC.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS THAT HAVE THIS PROGRAM.

IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS OURS BUT MANY OF THEM ARE CHEAPER THAN THE STANDARD RATE AND THEY GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT MOVING MORE OF OUR ELECTRICITY GREEN.

CRYSTAL: WE ARE TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE CONVERSATION THERE.

REVEREND MARIAMA WHITE-HAMMOND AND PATRICK KINNEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT INEQUITIES IN HEALTH CARE INCLUDING FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CARE WITH PATIENTS OF COLOR ARE OFTEN TREATED WITH LESS URGENCY AND UNDERSTANDING THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS BUT THEY'’RE ALSO ALSO MAJOR DISPARITIES FOR THE PEOPLE DOING THE CARING PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SURGEONS.

A 13 YEAR LONG STUDY RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUND THERE IS QUOTE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK PHYSICIANS AT EVERY STAGE IN SURGICAL TRAINING AND BLACK MEN ARE PRECIOUS LIKELY TO BE MISSING FROM THIS PROFESSION WITH HER GRADUATION RATE FROM U.S. GENERAL SURGERY DECLINING IN THOSE YEARS WHILE APPLICATION RATES HAVE GONE UP SLIGHTLY PEERED AT AS PART OF A LARGER PROBLEM DR. ROBERT HIGGINS HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND FOR DECADES FIRST AS A SURGEON AND THEN AS SURGEON IN CHIEF AT JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL AND NOW AS THE PRESIDENT OF BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'’S HOSPITAL.

DR. HIGGINS JOINED ME EARLIER THIS WEEK TO DIG INTO THE DISPARITIES AND HOW HE PLANS TO ADDRESS THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

DR. HIGGINS: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU.

CRYSTAL: WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY INTO SURGERY YOURSELF?

DR. HIGGINS: I WAS BLESSED MY DAD WAS A PHYSICIAN.

HE PASSED AWAY EARLY IN OUR LIVES BUT MY MOM KEPT THAT IMAGE OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO, HOW WE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH AND CREATED A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR US FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND PARTICIPATION THAT KEPT US OUT OF TROUBLE, MY TWO BROTHERS AND I. I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I WANTED TO BE A PHYSICIAN.

I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH LOTS OF GREAT SPONSORSHIP AND MENTORSHIP AND IN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITIES.

SO MY PATH HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.

HERE I AM TODAY.

SURPRISED AS I AM TO BE AT A PLACE LIKE BOSTON IN A FANTASTIC INSTITUTION.

HOPEFULLY LEADING OTHERS TO FIND THEIR WAY IN THIS CAREER AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AS YOU WERE TRYING TO GET INTO THIS PROFESSION AND NOW LEADING ONE OF BOSTON'’S TOP HOSPITALS?

DR. HIGGINS: IT WAS ALL ABOUT ACADEMIC PREPARATION AND SHOWING YOU CAN DO THE WORK AND PREPARATION FOR THE RIGORS OF TRAINING.

GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THEN GOING THROUGH THE GENERAL SURGERY TRAINING.

I GREW UP THINKING I WANTED TO BE A TRANSPLANT SURGEON.

ENDED UP IN CARDIOVASCULAR SPACE.

I DID A HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANT.

THAT IS HOW I BLAZED A TRAIL AS IT WERE AS ONE OF FEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN THE FIELD.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A ROLE MODEL.

I HAD GREAT MENTORSHIP.

PEOPLE WHO SPONSORED ME.

THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE OBVIOUS FOR ME.

I HAD TO PERFORM AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL ALONG WITH MY PEERS WHO WERE IN THE MAJORITY.

I WAS REALLY BLESSED TO GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

NOW I THINK IT HAS PAID DIVIDENDS BEING HERE AT ONE OF THE GREAT INSTITUTIONS IN AMERICA.

ACTUALLY AROUND THE WORLD, THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'’S HOSPITAL AND THE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM SYSTEM.

I FEEL HONORED TO BE HERE TO LEAD THESE PROGRAMS AND I HAVE TO REACH BACK NOW AND HELP MENTOR AND SPONSOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS.

CRYSTAL: WHY DO YOU THINK -- WE MENTIONED THE DECLINE FROM THE STUDY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THE NUMBER OF BLACK MALE SURGEONS IS DECLINING?

DR. HIGGINS: I THINK IT IS ALL OF MEDICINE.

MANY OF THE PERSONS OF COLOR WHO DON'’T HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET EARLY EDUCATIONAL REINFORCEMENT, THE REINFORCEMENT THEY NEED TO BE ACADEMICALLY PREPARED WHETHER THEY COME FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TO PRE-MEDICAL CURRICULUM AND THEN INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL, THEY JUST DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY MAY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE REINFORCEMENT.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY AND APTITUDE BUT IT IS ABOUT THE MENTORSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP.

IF THEY DON'’T GET THOSE RESOURCES, THEY WILL NOT FIND THE PATH.

COMPARED TO LAW OR BUSINESS, EVEN FINANCE, I THINK IT IS A SHORTER PATH.

IT IS LESS ONEROUS MAYBE.

IT TOOK ME NINE YEARS TO GO THROUGH MY SURGICAL TRAINING FROM GRADUATION FROM UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE PAIRED SO THAT IS AT LONG TIME.

-- UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSE.

SO THAT IS A LONG TIME SHOULD I HAD SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DEBT AND HAD TO PAY THAT BACK BEFORE I GOT MY FIRST JOB AT AGE 34 SO THAT IS A LONG TIME TO BE IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR CAREER AND YOUR FUTURE.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE OBSTACLES THAT YOUNG PERSONS PARTICULARLY OF COLOR FACE.

CRYSTAL: AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DR. HIGGINS: ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED TO REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICIANS AND DEDICATION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION FOR ALL PHYSICIANS PRIMARILY IN THE PRIMARY CARE BUT ALSO IN SPECIALTY AREAS.

AS HER CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO INVIGORATE THE ENVIRONMENTS.

I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THE DESTINATION HAS TO BE PRETTY SPECIAL.

WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE SO THAT PERSONS OF COLOR WHO COME INTO MEDICINE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WELCOME THERE.

THAT IS PART OF MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THE BRIGHAM AND THE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM ARE WELCOMING FOR PHYSICIANS WHO COME FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.

CRYSTAL: WE KNOW THE DATA SUPPORTS OF THAT IF A DOCTOR, A NURSE OR SOMEONE IN HEALTH CARE SPACE LOOKS LIKE YOU AS A PATIENT YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN TALKING ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS AND WORKING WITH THAT DOCTOR ON A TREATMENT PLAN.

IS THAT WHY THE FOCUS ON DIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT?

DR. HIGGINS: I THINK IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK CREATING SOME ROLE MODELS TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR A YOUNG PERSON LIVING UP TO SOMEBODY AND SAYING I CAN BE THAT PERSON.

BUT YOU CANNOT BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE AND CLASSICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS A ROLE MODEL AS AUDIBLE AS IT IS DO NOT LOOK LIKE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM YOUR COMMUNITY.

THEY DON'’T LOOK LIKE FOLKS WHO YOU WOULD SPEND TIME WITH IN A SOCIAL SETTING AND SO IT IS HARD TO FOLLOW IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS.

IF I CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND PROVE THAT SOMEDAY AND IN TURN OR RESIDENT WORKING TO THE PROGRESS CAN GROW UP TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PROGRAM, MAYBE WE HAVE BLAZED A TRAIL.

CRYSTAL: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU ARE DOING AT THE BRIGHAM TO CREATE MORE OF THE INCLUSIVE SPACE AMONG STAFF AND PATIENT CARE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?

DR. HIGGINS: IT REALLY IS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

SOMETIMES THESE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS ARE NOT WELCOMING TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT IN THE MAJORITY.

AND SO WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT NURTURES THEIR WELL-BEING.

THEY HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE INCLUDED AND VALUED IN THAT SPACE.

SO WE ARE DOING A LOT OF PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE CENTER FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A PLACE AT THE BRIGHAM AND AT THE MASS GENERAL AND ALL OF THESE OTHER INSTITUTIONS, JOHNS HOPKINS.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

ONCE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WELCOMED THERE, THEY CAN EXCEL.

THEY CAN GROW AND DEVELOP.

IF WE TAKE THEM ALONG THE WAY, WE CAN TEACH THEM HOW TO BE GREAT PHYSICIANS.

THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THE DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATION AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT IS THE CHALLENGE.

BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE.

WE WERE TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARING FOR COLLEGE.

SO THEY ARE TAKING THEIR SAT PREPARATION SO THEY CAN GET INTO COLLEGE.

THAT IS FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE.

THEY GO TO FOUR YEARS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL.

GENERAL SURGERY TRAINING WOULD BE FIVE YEARS OR MEDICAL TRAINING WOULD BE ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

SPECIALTY TRAINING FOR A CARDIAC SURGEON IS ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

THAT IS A LONG TIME.

IT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND EXPENSIVE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE TO OVERCOME IS THE SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGE OF GETTING INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD AND TRAINING AND THEN FEELING LIKE AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW YOU'’RE GOING TO CASH IN SO TO SPEAK AND HAVE A FRUITFUL CAREER.

YOU CAN DO GREAT THINGS.

YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS.

AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND OF THE WORLD.

CRYSTAL: WHAT EXTERNAL FORCES NEED TO BE RALLIED?

IS IT MORE STATE FUNDING FOR STEM PROGRAMS?

IS IT MORE AFFORDABLE COLLEGES?

WHAT EXTERNAL FACTORS COULD HELP WITH YOUR INTERNAL WORK AT THE BRIGHAM?

DR. HIGGINS: I THINK THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TAKING ON A HUGE DEBT.

MY SON HAD WELL OVER A SIX FIGURE DEBT WHICH HE IS NOW PAYING BACK.

WE'’RE HELPING HIM OUT OF COURSE.

EVEN PEOPLE OF MEANS STILL HAVE TO SPEND AN INCREDIBLE TIME AND ENERGY TO GET TO THAT DESTINATION.

I CAME FROM A SINGLE-PARENT HOME.

WE DID NOT HAVE RESOURCES TO SPEND ON BIG EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES.

SO WE BORROWED STUDENT LOANS.

SO I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRIED TO REDUCE THE STRESS ON FEDERAL DEBT FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PREMEDICAL CURRICULUM.

THERE IS RESISTANCE TO THAT I GUESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT IS ONE WAY TO HELP PROMOTE PEOPLE TO PURSUE THE CAREER SO THEY DON'’T HAVE TO TAKE ON A SIX FIGURE DEBT TO GET THERE.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AS THEY ARE TRAINING, HELPING THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WELCOMED IN THE ENVIRONMENT, CHANGING THE CULTURE OF MEDICINE WHICH IS MORE WELCOMING FOR PERSONS OF COLOR, BLACK AND BROWN AS WELL AS WOMEN TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GROW AND DEVELOP IN THOSE SPACES.

CRYSTAL: DR. HIGGINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

DR. HIGGINS: THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT THINGS WITH YOU.

CRYSTAL: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

GOOD NIGHT.

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