The CDU Advantage Pillars: Part I, Social Justice( continued)
that similar responses occurred previously through controversial initiatives surrounding the emancipation of slaves, women’ s suffrage, miscegenation, and gay marriage.
In its various forms and nomenclature, Social Justice as we know it is a very recent phenomenon. It is still not accepted as a universal tenet of human engagement. As nations pursued economic and hierarchical power throughout the ages, Social Justice was a non-starter in a monarchial class structure, or with empire-builders. But as a declaration of fundamental human rights, Social Justice has been an important factor in combating racism and classism, eradicating social stigma, and bringing equity to nations formerly embroiled in brutal internecine conflicts.
MLKCH CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor’ s Perspective
In a recent LA Times Op-Ed piece, MLK Community Hospital CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor provides an insightful take on a basic hindrance, i. e., the economics of care that mortally affects health care delivery in areas such as SPA 6. Entitled“ One Fix for health inequities: Change Medi-Cal”, she addressed the epidemic-level challenge of treating untreated illnesses that devastate predominantly Black and Brown communities such as South LA and termed the issue a systemic problem.
She acknowledged that underfunded programs such as Medi- Cal perpetuate the problem of social inequities. People with private insurance do indeed experience occasional difficulties such as waits, denials of care, as well as unavailable or inactive care providers.
But these issues are chronic and egregious for people who rely on Medicaid. Citing data from recent years, she noted that California’ s Medicaid system pays less than Medicare does for the same services and a fraction of what private insurance pays.
As a result, too few physicians can afford to practice in communities such as South LA, a prime example of a community that relies on Medi-Cal. The net effect for residents is daily struggle to receive quality health care. SPA 6 thereby endures as a classic health care desert with its severe shortages of physicians and basic health care service.
Prof. Cynthia Davis’ s Take“ I totally agree that the Social Justice Pillar of the CDU Advantage has been important to CDU’ s mission since its founding,” said Prof. Davis.“ When we look at the history of why the University was founded, it was in response to gross injustices and discrimination in the Watts Willowbrook community.
Is it part of our founding legacy? We will always make sure that students who matriculate at CDU will stand up for social justice.”
“ The Social Justice Pillar is ingrained in everything that we do: action, curriculum, community outreach, research. Social Justice is important to health care equity. Ensuring a community voice through our training of future doctors. After almost 60 years in operation, incidents like the George Floyd murder show us there’ s still a lot to accomplish.”
Through Professor Davis’ work, CDU was involved in the fight for health equity for HIV / AIDS patients from the beginning.“ Educating the community was a primary focus and 45 years later, there’ s still a lot to be done. Now with COVID, CDU is once again in the forefront, we still must fight for our rights as American citizens,” she observed.
“ The battle with COVID-19 health access is one of securing public and private funding to shore up gaps in service delivery in SPA 6 and other communities. The University is really mobilized about the risks and the fight to dispel myths presented in social media, and the ongoing activity of bringing the need for additional resources to the attention of policy makers and funders. There is a need to provide money to institutions with the capacity to provide services, and CDU is certainly one of them.”
Parting View: The CDU Advantage Is a Winning Strategy The CDU Advantage is unique, innovative, and groundbreaking. It is based on nearly six decades of lessons learned in implementation and practice through the University’ s various initiatives and academic departments. Research is highly empirical, most often based on examining existing conditions experienced by people in the most vulnerable health straits.
At base is the holistic approach that healthcare inequities are tied to quality-of-life social determinants including, but not limited to, poverty, homelessness, mental health conditions, interpersonal violence, and substance abuse.
This strategy promotes the goal of maintaining the highest quality of life for the most amount of people. It offers solutions that serve as a demonstration for effective legislation, greater public passion, and advocacy for a world where all people have a reasonable chance for a healthy and productive life.
The task of eradicating healthcare disparities in underserved communities is a long-term and sustainable endeavor when supported by a cadre of people with financial resources at their disposal as well as proven intellectual capital.
The CDU Advantage enables and cultivates the development of healthcare leaders who are grounded in understanding and tackling the realities of living in resource-deficient communities. Instructional training takes a proactive approach by integrating an active community faculty component as part of the operational methodology.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 26