Greater Boston
May 2, 2024
Season 2024 Episode 62 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Episode: 05/03/24
Greater Boston Full Episode: 05/03/24
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Greater Boston is a local public television program presented by GBH
Greater Boston
May 2, 2024
Season 2024 Episode 62 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Episode: 05/03/24
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.
A PROTEST ENCAMPMENTS CONTINUING BUSTING CAMPUSES AS STUDENTS CALL FOR THE UNIVERSITIES TO CUT TIES WITH ISRAEL AMID THE ONGOING WAR IN GAZA.
TORI BEDFORD WAS ON THE GROUND AT THE PROTEST AND WILL JOIN ME WITH THE LATEST.
LATER I WILL TALK TO THE HEAD OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ABOUT A PROGRAM TO BUILD UP DIVERSITY AND FILL WORK GAPS IN HEALTH CARE ALL BY PAYING OFF STUDENT LOANS FOR WORKERS.
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS WEIGHING IN AS STUDENTS ACROSS THE U.S. AND RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON PROTEST AGAINST ISRAEL’S ATTACKS IN GAZA AND THEIR FINANCIAL TIES TO ISRAEL.
HERE IS WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD TO SAY.
PRES.
BIDEN: DISSENT IS ESSENTIAL TO DEMOCRACY BUT NEVER LEAD TO DISORDER OR THE RIGHTS TO DENY OTHERS TO FINISH THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION.
HOST: MORE THAN 100 PROTESTERS WERE ARRESTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE TODAY.
A FEW HOURS BEFORE THAT STUDENTS FROM EMERSON COLLEGE WALKED OFF THEIR BOSTON CAMPUS.
PROTESTERS FROM M.I.T.
BLOCK TRAFFIC IN THE CENTER OF THE CAMBRIDGE CAMPUS, AND IN SOMERVILLE SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE THREAT STUDENTS WITH SUSPENSION OR BANS FROM GRADUATION IF THEY DO NOT BREAK UP THEIR ENCAMPMENT.
TORI BEDFORD HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND COVERING THESE STORIES, AND SHE JOINS ME NOW, HI, TORI.
YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS FOR A WHILE, BASICALLY SINCE ITS BEGINNING, AND STUDENTS HAVE A RECURRING SET OF DEMANDS.
TORI: IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.
THEY ARE INCONVENIENCING THESE SCHOOLS AND HAS COME UP A LOT THAT THERE ARE OUTSIDE AGITATORS OR THERE WAS A LINE WHERE YOU DO NOT DESTROY PROPERTY, AND WE HAVE TO ASK WHY ARE THESE STUDENTS SO ANGRY, BECAUSE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE COME BACK TO THE TABLE AT TUFTS, THEY HAVE BEEN A REALLY HEATED AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING THE UNIVERSITIES TO DO IS TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH HOW THEY SPELLED THEIR ENDOWMENT AND TO DIVEST FROM COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT OR WORK WITH ISRAEL OR THE ISRAELI ARMY, SO I WAS TRYING TO LOOK INTO IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE 9-90’S.
AT NORTHEASTERN THE STUDENTS ARE ASKING THEM TO DIVEST.
THEY HAVE RESEARCH PARTNERS, AND ONE OF THEM IS RAYTHEON AND THEY SUPPLY TANKS AND BOMBS AND GUNS AND MISSILES.
NORTHRUP GRUNHAM IS ANOTHER HUGE MILITARY SUPPLIER THAT IS A RESEARCH PARTNER OF NORTHEASTERN.
GENERAL IS ANOTHER ONE.
YOU CANNOT EXACTLY SEE THE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
I KNOW THAT THEY DID GIVE A $50,000 GRANT IN THEIR LAST TAX FILING TO RAYTHEON.
HUGE PROTEST BEFORE THE CAMPUS PROTEST IN CAMBRIDGE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO M.I.T.. M.I.T.
HAS A LOT OF MILITARY GRANTS AT A RELATIONSHIP SAID RESEARCH PART HOURS.
THE MEDIA LAB, A LOT OF THEIR WORK IS SPONSORED BY THE MILITARY, AND THERE IS A TRANSACTIONAL RELATIONSHIP THERE.
SO WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE ASKING IS FOR THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
THEY ARE PAYING TUITION AT THESE SCHOOLS AND DRAWING THIS VERY SPECIFIC LINE BETWEEN WE PAY GOOD MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE IN THE DIRECT MILITARY ACTION RELATED TO THE KILLING OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT THAT.
I WANT TO MENTION BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE DID COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON DIVESTMENT IN OCTOBER.
THE BOARD VOTE IN OCTOBER IS WHERE THEY WILL MAKE THAT DECISION, AND THE ACTIVISTS THERE ARE CALLING IT A VICTORY, BUT I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT WE WILL SEE OVER THE SUMMER AND FOLLOWING THE VOTE IF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND UP VOTING NO -- END UP VOTING NO.
CRYSTAL: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE ANGER ONCE THERE IS A COOLING PERIOD OVER THE SUMMER.
TORI: WHAT WE ARE COMING UP NOW IS COMMENCEMENT.
AT NORTHEASTERN A LOT OF KIDS ARE LOCAL, SO I DO NOT KNOW.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE OVER THE SUMMER WHAT KIND OF PROTEST WILL CONTINUE TO BE HAPPENING.
AS YOU MENTIONED AT EMERSON THERE WERE 102 ARRESTS, AND A FEW DAYS LATER THERE WAS A HUGE WALKOUT WHERE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS CAME OUT.
THEY PUT UP THESE POST-IT NOTES AGAINST A BUILDING ON CITY CAMPUS.
THEY SURROUNDED SOMEPLACE, AND THERE WAS THIS BUSH THAT DESPITE SOME OF THE FACT THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD WAS STILL FACING ARRAIGNMENT, THEY WERE COMING OUT TO SAY THIS MOVEMENT IS NOT OVER.
WE ARE ANGRY AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT WHY YOU WERE HERE.
CRYSTAL: WE HAVE A CLIP THAT WAS POSTED TO INSTAGRAM, AND IT SHOWS STUDENT PROTESTERS CONFRONTING THE MAYOR ABOUT POLICE INVOLVEMENT AND BREAKING UP THE ENCAMPMENT.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> DID YOU SEE THEM POWER WASH THE BLOOD OFF THE STREETS AFTER THEY BE THE [BEEP] OUT OF US.
>> YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT MUSLIMS AND YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT REFUGEES AND PALESTINIANS BEING GENOCIDE AND.
CRYSTAL: WE KNOW EMOTIONS ARE HIGH.
CITIES AND TOWNS ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEIR ELECTED BODIES TO CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
IT IS LARGELY SYMBOLIC, BUT YOU HAVE A CONFRONTATION RIGHT THERE WITH THE MAYOR AND THIS PROTESTER.
TORI: THE BOSTON’S CITY COUNCIL JUST CALLED FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
THIS CASE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE MAYOR WU HAD OCTOBER PUSH FOR THIS ORDINANCE THAT BANNED TENTS AND AGAIN SINCE ACROSS THE CITY, SO I WONDER IF SHE CITED THE ORDINANCE WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS AND DEFENDING HER CALL TO BRING THE POLICE IN, AND SHE HAD BEEN TALKING TO EMERSON COLLEGE AND DAYS PRIOR.
WHEN THE OFFICERS CAME TO THE PA SYSTEM THEY READ THE ORDINANCE TRIES TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS DO THEY WERE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, BUT COLLEGES HAVE CALLED ON MUNICIPALITIES TO BRING IN SUPPORT FROM THE POLICE, AND THOSE FORCES HAVE DECLINED.
THE MAYORS HAVE SAID WE ARE NOT GETTING INVOLVED.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE DASH CAM AND BODYCAM FOOTAGE, SAYING WE DO NOT HAVE A SIDE.
WE ARE JUST HERE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ORDINANCE.
NORTHEASTERN IS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IT IS A THREE WAY, IT IS COMPLICATED, BUT THEY BRING IN SUPPORT.
NUPD BRINGS IN SUPPORT FROM STATE POLICE, SO THAT WOULD BE THE CASE AT M.I.T.
AND TUFTS.
I WAS AT TUFTS A COUPLE DAYS AGO, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT AN IMPENDING RAID.
THEY WERE TRAINING, PREPARING DRILLS, HOW TO BE ARRESTED, RIGHT DOWN JAIL SUPPORT NUMBERS ON YOUR ARM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS, BUT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS I SAW IN A STATEMENT FROM TUFTS, IT SAID STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO MOVE THEIR PROTEST TO ANOTHER PART OF CAMPUS OF THIS TO -- CAMPUS SO THE SCHOOL COULD CARRY ON COMING -- COMMENCEMENT.
THE POINT IS TO INCONVENIENCE YOU END IS COMING UP AGAINST COMMENCEMENT.
THE COLLEGES ARE LIKE WE ARE IN A BIND WITH THIS.
IN THE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF COLLEGES IS THAT YOUR JOB AS AN INVESTOR IS TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL, SO THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING "WE FIND THESE INVESTMENTS UNETHICAL OR WE WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY AROUND THIS."
THE RESPONSE WERE BROWNED IS REALLY INTERESTING, AND I THINK BACK AT NORTHEASTERN IN THE 1980’S STUDENTS WERE PROTESTING AGAINST APARTHEID AND EFFECTIVELY GOT THE SCHOOL TO DIVEST FROM COMPANIES INVOLVED IN APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1986, SO THERE IS HISTORY THERE AND THERE IS MORE RECENT HISTORY OF STUDENTS -- THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS WHERE STUDENTS ARE TASKED WITH MONITORING FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND PROTEST ACTIVITIES OF OTHER STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE A TIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL INCLUDING TRAVEL PROGRAMS AND HAVE BUILT THESE THE YEARS.
A NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY FACED PENALTIES FROM THE SCHOOL FOR INVOLVEMENT IN PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST, SO I THINK THE POINT IS TO INCONVENIENCE THEM AND TO SAY "WE ARE RAISING OUR VOICES IN A WAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT THIS NOW."
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE GOT PEOPLE LEAVING’S FOR SCHOOL.
CRYSTAL: THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PRESIDENT BIDEN OBVIOUSLY GOING TO AFTER ANSWER FOR THIS AS WELL ESPECIALLY AS THE CAMPAIGN SEASON CONTINUES, SO WE HAVE A SOUNDBITE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE PROTESTS.
PRES.
BIDEN: WE ARE NOT AN AUTHORITARIAN NATION WHERE WE SILENCE PEOPLE OR SQUASH DISSENT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE HEARD.
PEACEFUL PROTEST IS IN THE BEST TRADITION OF HOW AMERICANS RESPOND TO CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES, BUT NEITHER ARE WE A LAWLESS COUNTRY.
CRYSTAL: LAWLESS IS SUCH A HEAVY WORD WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT PROTESTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
TORI: REMINDS ME OF COVERING BLACK LIVE MATTERS PROTEST IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD AND SEEING DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND PROTESTERS SAYING THE POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THIS PRIORITIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY OVER PEOPLE’S LIVES, WHICH BRINGS IT BACK TO WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING.
STUDENTS AT TUFTS WILL NOT SPEAK TO THE PRESS EXCEPT TO SAY ALL EYES ON GAZA.
WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE MEDIA ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE ROLE OF POLICE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THESE ARE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE, BUT AS THIS IS HAPPENING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA IS ONGOING AND THE STUDENTS WENT TO ACTIVELY MAKE CHANGE THEIR.
THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL WHAT THEY CAN CONTROL BIKE ON THE LENDER UNIVERSITIES TO DIVEST, SO THAT IS THEIR ULTIMATE PRIORITY.
LAWLESSNESS, I DON’T KNOW.
THERE WAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROTESTS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
I SAW PEOPLE INTO RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN’S STATEMENT TALKING ABOUT HOW ROSA PARKS AND GOOD OTHER BUS PASSENGERS OR HOW PEOPLE IN TULSA SITTING AT A LUNCH COUNTER PEOPLE WERE INCONVENIENCING OTHER PEOPLE EATING THEIR LUNCH.
THERE ARE LAWS THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY FIGHTING AGAINST, AND IN THIS CASE IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE COURT HEARINGS AS WELL.
A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FACED WITH THE MISDEMEANORS, TRESPASSING, SOME HAVE BEEN FACING FELONIES.
NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS ARE GETTING 20 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EMERSON STUDENTS ARE GETTING 40.
IT DEPENDS UPON THE JUDGE IN THE SERVICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
CRYSTAL: MASSACHUSETTS IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
THE INDUSTRY HAD 50,000 I JOBS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THAT IS MORE THAN 17,000 BEING REGISTERED NURSES, AND OF THE POSITIONS THAT ARE FILLED THE VAST MAJORITY IN PATIENT FACING AND LEADERSHIP ROLES ARE WHITE, AND THAT CAN HAVE SERIOUS IMPACTS ON PATIENTS OF COLOR WHO HAVE LONG EXPERIENCED A VERY DIFFERENT SYSTEM AND THE HEALTH ECOSYSTEM.
A STATE PROGRAM AIMS TO TACKLE BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS BY PAYING OFF STUDENT LOANS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
I AM JOINED BY MICHAEL CURRY, PRESIDENT OF THE PROGRAM, AND DR. CHERYL CLARK, LEAD OF HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND POLICY.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY.
>> CREDITED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
WE COMPLAINED ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS, BUT WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL.
NOT EVERY STATE IS PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE SHORTAGES IN VARIOUS AREAS, MASSACHUSETTS’ LEGISLATURE WAS WISE ENOUGH TO PUT UP MONEY ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
POST COVID THERE WAS A MASS EXODUS FROM THE PROFESSION, PEOPLE WHO WERE BURNT OUT OR DECIDING TO NO LONGER WANTED TO WORK AS NURSES OR PHYSICIANS, AND THEY PUT UP MONEY, OVER $300 MILLION.
IT RESULTED IN A LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM THAT REALLY POSITIONS PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR JOBS.
WE CAN HELP YOU -- THE COST OF ILLEGAL EDUCATION -- A LEGAL EDUCATION.
YOU CAN STAY IN THE JOB AS A NURSE, DOCTOR, CLINICIAN, SO HUGE GRANTED TO MASSACHUSETTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
CRYSTAL: THE RETENTION PIECE ISSUE BECAUSE MASSACHUSETTS IS IN A HOUSING CRISIS, WE DID A TRANSPORTATION STORY WHERE THERE ARE SOME DOCTORS COMMUTING FROM MOISTURE -- WORCHESTER JUST TO PAY FOR HOUSING.
AS THEY ARE BEING HIRED INTO HEALTH CARE ROLES IS HUGE.
>> WE VISITED HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.
DR. CLARK AND I HAVE BEEN ON THIS TOUR, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE AND EVERY HEALTH CENTER IN EVERY COMMUNITY IS WE WANT TO RECRUIT PROVIDERS, BUT WE CANNOT GET THEM TO SAY -- STAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE PAID A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT MAY NOT COMPETE WITH THE BIGGER SYSTEMS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES INVOLVED, BUT WHEN YOU CAN OFFER PEOPLE REPAYMENT AND THEY CAN MATCH THAT AGAINST THE NATION AT THE ORGANIZATION AND THEY WANT TO SERVE THE MISSION EVEN THOUGH IT WILL NOT BE SUPER WEALTHY OUT OF THIS, PROVIDERS ARE MAKING THAT CHOICE.
THEY ARE COMING TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SERVING IN OUR HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, SO THERE IS A CLEAR BENEFIT OF LOAN REPAYMENT, AND THANKFUL TO THE COMMONWEALTH FOR BEING A LEADING STATE WITH INVESTMENT.
CRYSTAL: TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE SEEING IN YOUR ROLE?
>> IT IS STILL IMPORTANT, THESE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY.
THERE IS A STATISTIC IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND.
ONLY ABOUT 5% OF PHYSICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS, IT ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE REFLECTS WHO WE ARE AND WE HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE TO TAKE CARE OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS.
CRYSTAL: ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT MEDICAL SCHOOL LOANS.
FORGET ABOUT COLLEGE LOANS.
IF YOU WERE GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE GOTTEN A BACHELORS DEGREE, SOMETIMES A MASTERS DEGREE, MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND YOU ARE NOT MAKING A TON OF MONEY RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.
>> THAT IS RIGHT, AND DATE CONSTRAINS YOUR CHOICES.
WHAT SORT OF SPECIALTY CAN YOU GO INTO?
PRIMARY CARE, THE DOCTORS THAT TAKE CARE OF ALL OF YOU, THEY ARE PAID A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, THEY ARE PAID LESS THAN PEOPLE WHO GO INTO SPECIALTIES, SO MAKING SURE THAT WE STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE, STRENGTHEN OUR PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE, LOAN REPAYMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT OPENS UP THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE.
>> PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, WHICH THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY CARE, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE ARE WAITING SO LONG TO BE SEEN CAN BE PAID $100,000 TO $400,000 RESIDENT SPECIALTY CARE.
IMAGINE PRIMARY CARE, PAIN NOW OR PAY GREATER LATER, YOU WANT TO PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHO KEEPS YOU HEALTHY AND IDENTIFY YOUR DISEASE AT AN EARLIER STATE AND THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RIGHT COST, AND WE ARE NOT INVESTING.
ONLY 6% OF OUR SPEND IN THE COMMONWEALTH IS GOING TO PRIMARY CARE, BUT WHAT ENCOURAGES ME ABOUT THIS IS A PART OF THIS THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, A GOOD PORTION OF MONEY IS GOING TO RECRUIT OR PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, SO THIS WAY THEY WILL NOT HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO GO INTO SPECIALTY CARE.
THAT IS ENCOURAGING THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE.
CRYSTAL: WE HAVE DATED THAT REALLY SHOWS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE PERCENT OF WORKERS IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS LIKE EMERGENCY ROOMS, URGENT HEALTH CARE YOU IDENTIFY AS WHITE, NON-HISPANIC.
86% ARE NURSES, 71%, PHYSICIANS, 80%, LEADERSHIP ARE WHITE.
IF I SEE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ME I MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY LEVEL OF CARE WOULD BE.
I WAS AT A SICKLE CELL EVENT AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WITH SICKLE CELL ARE BLACK FOLKS AND THEY GO INTO THESE SPACES AND THEY ARE SEEN AS PEOPLE WHO ARE PAIN RELIEF SEEKING MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT DRUGS, SO HAVING THIS PART OF MONEY TO CHANGE OUTCOMES AS YOU READ -- IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
>> THERE IS A BLACK WOMAN SOMEWHERE, A BLACK GIRL WHO WOULD DEVELOP A CURE FOR CANCER, BUT WE WILL NEVER KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE THE MORAL SUPPORT, THE ACADEMIC RIGOR, SHE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE MONEY TO PURSUE THAT EDUCATION, AND WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE SHE WAS MEANT TO FIND A CURE FOR CANCER.
IF WE CAN DETACH OURSELVES FROM THIS NOTION THAT ONLY A SMALL DEMOGRAPHIC OF AMERICA SHOULD TO BE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.
THERE ARE ALSO SHOWING CITIES THAT OUTCOME IS BETTER FOR COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHEN THERE ARE PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS OF COLOR.
THAT DATA IS EVOLVING HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHEN I SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE, AND IF YOU WERE A BLACK WOMAN, I BELIEVE YOUR PAIN.
I IDENTIFY YOUR FAITH BEING A PART OF YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS.
WE IDENTIFY THAT DIVERSITY MATTERS IN OUR MEDICAL PROFESSION.
CRYSTAL: DR. CLARK, I WOULD LOVE YOU TO SAY MORE.
>> THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW PARTICULARLY INFANTS TEND TO LIVE LONGER OR HAVE THEIR OUTCOMES WHEN THEY ARE ACUTELY SICK WHEN THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF BY PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO RAISE AS WELL.
YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO YOU WERE GOING TO CONNECT WITH.
THERE MAY BE SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE, JUST HAVING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU WILL MEET THAT PERSON YOU CAN MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH SO IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
CRYSTAL: AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES AND TALKING ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE FUNDS, THEY ARE MORE EAGER TO SAY TO THE SAVINGS ARE CHILDREN, YOU CAN BE A DOCTOR.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE LOANS, AND THAT MAKES YOU MORE APT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS YOU WENT TO THE PROFESSION.
>> I WOULD SAY IT IS ACTUALLY PERSONAL.
I DID RECEIVE A LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, AND ONLY ABOUT 1% OF THE INVESTIGATORS WHO WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT RESEARCH RELATED TO HEALTH HAPPENED TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SO IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT EVEN PERSONALLY TO HAVE THAT RESOURCE AND LEAD DIRECTLY TO THE WORK THAT I’M DOING NOW.
CRYSTAL: CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE WATCHING, AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT THIS WORK IS HAPPENING.
THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.
ADAM REILLY WILL TALK TO BEN WEBER WHO CALLED OUT THE CITY FOR SENDING IN THE POLICE TO ARREST MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE AT A PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST AT THE SCHOOL.
AT THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE WILL LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A SONG FROM A BOSTON-BASED EVENT BERMUDA SEARCH PARTY.
HERE THEY ARE, AND GOOD NIGHT.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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