My June Yardarm column has traditionally been a celebration of the May Commencement. As with everything else this year, our traditions have been modified, and May 11 came and went without the usual excitement of you celebrating with your friends, faculty, and loved ones at the BCEC.
While our ceremony was postponed, I would like to recognize the 566 graduates who persisted in the face of challenges, grew as health care providers, and were launched into the world to improve the health of thousands. While the day was not what we expected, I hope it was a day of personal celebration for each and every one of you for all that you have accomplished and how you have met the challenge of this pandemic head-on.
I look forward to our virtual Commencement celebration on Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m. where we will hear from our student Commencement speaker, award an honorary doctorate, and recognize selected alumni. Our program will not be unlike what it would have been if we were able to gather in person. We will also recognize each of you individually and share a bit about your time at the IHP. We have lots of special touches that we know will make this event not only a distinguished celebration of your accomplishments but a joyous and festive event as well. I look forward to seeing you there!
As I envision your future as an IHP graduate, I can’t help but see it in the context of what we have all gone through over the last 12 weeks. We have lost friends, family, and loved ones, and much of what we know and have grown accustomed to has been challenged. As leaders in health care, we all recognize the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the communities of color right here in Greater Boston and want to understand why this has happened not only here but also all over the country. For example, in Chelsea, 66% of the population identifies as Hispanic, limited English ability is four times the state average, and the poverty rate is 50% higher than the average for Massachusetts. Here, residents have a death rate that is four times that of the state as a whole; Chelsea has the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in Massachusetts. Most of us would look at these data and think that perhaps individual comorbidities or the social determinants of health played a role in this picture. Perhaps the structural racism that prevented our Chelsea neighbors from accessing culturally relevant health care in a timely manner was a contributing factor.
As Dr. Tom Sequist, Chief Patient Experience and Equity Officer for Mass General Brigham, described in his testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on May 27, there are multiple factors that are driving this disproportionate impact. As health care leaders, we all have a responsibility to work to reduce the impact of the social determinants of health on communities of color. We all have a responsibility to work to reduce the impact of structural racism not only in the care we provide but also in the systems in which we work. Our work with communities and populations can have an effect on the availability of nutritious food, the availability of adequate housing, and the perception of a welcoming health care delivery system. I hope, as you have witnessed the impact of this pandemic, your passion to look further than your individual client to the community in which they belong and to the system of health care of which you are a part has been ignited.
Furthermore, the events of the last week after the brutal death of George Floyd demonstrate clearly how systemic racism impacts the way people of color are treated across the country. Protests and civil unrest across the country reflect the desperate need for sweeping changes not only in policing but also in the many ways Blacks are disadvantaged in this country, including in the health care they receive. The Institute remains steadfast in its commitment to exploring and discussing these issues, as well as being a model for change.
As an IHP graduate, your commitment to leadership in health care is remarkable, and the leadership you bring has never been more important than it is in these challenging times. You are going into a health care world that most of us have never imagined, and you will be asked to do things that many of us have never done. The challenges will be many, and the burden of that work will be heavy. So many of you came to the IHP to make a positive difference in people’s lives, to make people feel better, to give them the ability to do things they could not do before your care. As you navigate as a new practitioner into a system in which you may not have the outcomes that you expected, I hope you remember to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. As health care providers, we know what to do but often forsake that for the benefit of our patients. Being able to take time for yourself, reflect on your experiences, and ask for help when you need it is what will make you an exceptional provider. You have a long career ahead, and it’s when things are the hardest that you need to take care of yourself the most.
I wish you all a career that is everything you hoped for when you entered the IHP. You will always be part of this community, and I hope the IHP will always be a part of your life. I hope that your passion for your profession only builds as you grow as a provider. I know I speak for the IHP faculty and staff when I say that we wish you well.
Paula