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Homer G. Phillips was not a doctor. He was a lawyer and community leader who fought for Black people in St. Louis to have a real hospital, and the institution that carried his name helped change Black medicine in America. Longer version coming soon.

Medical schools are no longer being clearly required to teach future doctors about health inequities the way they were before, according to STAT’s reporting on updated LCME standards. This is not abstract. Patients feel it in real life.

Black maternal health is still a crisis. One thing that does not get enough attention is the role Black fathers can play too. Showing up, asking questions, and advocating matters.

Sometimes what feels normal to somebody else can reveal a blind spot in you. Watching Willie Moore Jr. honor his parents taught me something about legacy, gratitude, and what I did not fully understand because I did not grow up with that kind of father-son relationship myself.

The Black Panther Who Changed Disability Rights Brad Lomax was a Black Panther, disability-rights activist, and part of the history behind the 504 sit-in. He helped connect Black liberation and disability justice, then died at just 33 from complications of MS More people should know his name

The real question is not whether somebody got offended by Find A Black Dr The real question is why a Black doctor directory had to exist in the 1st place Black-centered tools were built because Black people were excluded. That history cannot be erased just because people do not like the response

Sad news in hip-hop. Rob Base, one half of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, has reportedly passed away at the age of 59 after a private battle with cancer. Thank you for the music, the joy, and the memories.

Black women are constantly told to advocate for themselves in healthcare. That is real. But sometimes the issue is bigger than self-advocacy. Sometimes the system is not built to catch us the same way. Do not let one test result shut the whole conversation down.

Jason Collins was not just a former NBA player. He was the first openly gay player in NBA history. Now his death at 47 is also putting a spotlight on glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. If symptoms keep going or feel off, follow up.

Too many Black women know what it feels like to have symptoms minimized or brushed off. Self-advocacy is not being difficult. It can be lifesaving. If your body is telling you something is wrong, keep pushing.

A lot of people are busy every day, but still feel lost. Purpose does not remove pain. It gives pain context. When you know your why, you are less likely to drift when life gets heavy. That is mental health too.

Some Black women say they felt healthier after leaving America and moving to Germany. That is not just about healthcare. It is also about stress, stability, and whether life feels more manageable. What does it say about America when people feel healthier after they leave?

Before you call something a breakthrough, ask: What phase is the trial in? Phase 1 = safety Phase 2 = does it seem to work? Phase 3 = bigger comparison Phase 4 = after approval That’s the basic NIH framework. Early trial is worth watching, not overhyping.

There’s new reporting about an mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer showing promise in an early trial. This is treatment research, not prevention. We lost someone close to me, Jonathan P. Hicks, to pancreatic cancer. So when I hear news like this, I hear possibility. Hope, caution, or both?

Some dreams are not for right now. That does not mean they are not real. Some goals stay with you for years because they still belong to you. The timing just may not be there yet. What long-term goal do you still carry?

A lot of adults grew up with autism traits that were missed, misunderstood, or explained away. Autism is not new. What’s newer is people finally having language for what was missed. How many adults were never difficult at all, just misunderstood?

Public heartbreak is still heartbreak. The internet may laugh, but behind the jokes there is still a real person dealing with disappointment, loneliness, and loss. Sometimes a breakup is also grief in disguise.

Jeremiyah Love went No. 3 overall in the NFL Draft. His family has spoken publicly about autism-related traits they noticed when he was younger and how support mattered more than forcing him to fit somebody else’s mold. Support changes outcomes. St. Louis stand up.

Michael Beasley’s story hit hard. Grief does not always look obvious. Sometimes it looks like someone still showing up, still working, still playing, and still being expected to function like nothing happened. This is why mental health conversations matter, especially for Black men.

These are not isolated incidents. Violence in the home is a public health issue. It affects safety, trauma, children, and families. Men take cues from men, so men have to help change the code before more lives are destroyed.

Intimate partner violence is not just private relationship drama. It is a safety issue, a trauma issue, and a public health issue. Black women deserve peace, safety, and the right to leave without fear. Violence is never love.

A healthy birth does not start in the delivery room. It starts with trust, access, and being taken seriously before the crisis. Black maternal health is bigger than pregnancy. It is also about how the system listens, responds, and follows through. #BMHW26

Nostalgia is fine. But it becomes a problem when it convinces you your best days are already behind you. You can respect your past without living there. Do you think nostalgia helps people more, or keeps too many people stuck?

5 Black autistic voices to follow: Jason Arday Kalin Bennett Nicholas Watson Ayanna Sanaa Davis Alasia Beauty Arday became the youngest Black professor at Cambridge. Bennett was the first openly autistic athlete with a D1 scholarship. Watson graduated valedictorian with a 4.8 GPA.

If autism affects your family, here are 6 organizations supporting the Black autism community: Autism in Black The Color of Autism Foundation Black Autism Coalition Autism Urban Connections The GAPS Society Black Autism Support Society

April is Autism Awareness Month. We need a real conversation about autism in Black and Brown communities. Too often the signs get missed or minimized. Prayer has a place, but prayer is not a substitute for evaluation. When signs are ignored, kids lose time.

A lot of people want to win. Fewer people are mentally prepared for what winning actually requires: structure, discipline, sacrifice, consistency, and delayed gratification. And real winning also means deciding what success is not allowed to cost you. What do people miss mentally?

Prior authorization means your insurance company wants approval before they agree to pay for a medication, scan, or treatment. A lot of these delays are administrative, not just medical. Ask: Was it submitted? Pending or denied? Appeal needed? People are not wrong for being frustrated.

Ever leave the doctor expecting the specialist to call right away, and then nothing? Referrals often involve more steps: office sends it, insurance may need approval, records are sent, specialist reviews it, and sometimes the patient still has to call. A lot of delays are admin, not clinical.

Why do doctor visits feel so short? Because doctors are often trying to review charts, listen, make decisions, document, order tests, send prescriptions, and deal with insurance in a very limited time window. It is also a system design issue. What do you wish they had more time to explain?

Have you ever heard of a “mother wound” before? We often focus on what adults are running to, but not enough on what they may be running from. Sometimes you’re talking to an adult. Sometimes you’re also speaking to the hurt child underneath. What did you think about the video?

Since it’s Women’s History Month, this story hits harder. Reuters and AP report that Dolores Huerta said she stayed silent for decades because she believed telling the truth would hurt the movement she helped build with César Chávez.  How many women have done that in silence?

Update on the Piedmont Henry story. I’m sharing commentary from a nurse who says there is more clinical context than what was shown in the original viral clips. According to her account, this involved a frank breech baby. Not the final word. Just additional claimed context.

Mental Health Monday. In uncertain times, wisdom is knowing what is yours to carry and what is too heavy for one person to hold alone. You can care deeply without collapsing under everything. How do you decide what to carry and what to let go?

A lot of adults end up helping their parents navigate Medicare. Simple version: Part A = hospital care Part B = doctor visits Part C = Medicare Advantage Part D = prescriptions The confusion is real, and it is often a system problem. What part confuses people most?

A lot of men were never taught the language for what they feel. Sometimes what looks like anger is really frustration, fear, shame, or overwhelm. What’s an emotion you think men struggle to talk about the most? #MentalHealthMonday

Quick healthcare tip: 🚨 Emergency Room Life-threatening conditions -chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, seizures, or difficulty breathing. 🏥 Urgent Care Non-life-threatening issues - ear infections, sprains, allergies, or flu symptoms. #HealthLiteracy

I asked what Zuckerberg, Jobs, Einstein, Obama, and Cornel West have in common. They simplified daily decisions. Decision fatigue drains cognitive energy. Standardizing small choices protects mental bandwidth. Sometimes peace comes from deciding less. #MentalHealthMonday #DecisionFatigue

Semi-annual dental cleaning done. Many people don’t realize oral health impacts cardiovascular health. Gum disease has been linked to increased heart disease risk. Small, consistent prevention matters. #MinorityHealthPartners #PreventiveCare

Getting fathers engaged in neurodivergent support sometimes requires reframing the conversation. Most men understand effort and outcomes through sports. Apply that same intensity to developmental progress. Fathers are not spectators. They are key players. #BlackFathers #Neurodiversity

Spoke at BAAM on Black fathers and neurodiversity. The research supports it. But beyond research, lived experience confirms it. Presence changes trajectories. Black fathers are not assistants in the home. We are stabilizers. If you’re blessed to be present, stay. #BlackFathers #Neurodiversity

When someone dies young, we freeze them in time. When someone lives long enough to evolve publicly, we critique every chapter. In a world where nothing disappears online, are any of us built for lifelong judgment? Growth is messy. Growth is public. Growth is human. #MentalHealthMonday #Growth

Traveling to speak on Black fatherhood and neurodiversity. Quick reminder: Not every child acting out in public needs discipline. Some are sensory overloaded. Some are autistic. Some have ADHD. Lead with empathy, not judgment.

Five Black surgical residents are now leading trauma surgery at Johns Hopkins — for the first time in history. That is operational leadership at one of the most respected hospitals in the world. Congrats Dr. Alia, Brown, Mannoh, Enumah & Shoyombo. Representation in medicine matters.

Before you trust health advice online: • Peer-reviewed research? • Selling something? • One study or many? • Data or story? • Acknowledges uncertainty? Confidence isn’t credibility.

We chase breakthroughs. But most growth is boring repetition. Routines reduce stress because they remove constant decision-making. Small habits. Daily. Consistent. That’s the real upgrade. What are you working on?

Community health didn’t start as a policy debate. It started as community action. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Black Panther Party launched: – Free breakfast programs – Community clinics – Sickle cell awareness initiatives – Patient advocacy #BlackHistoryMonth #PublicHealth

Rage bait is designed to hijack your emotions. Bots or not, your nervous system still pays the price. Disengagement isn’t weakness. It’s discipline. Protect your peace.

As the season ends, it’s worth asking who gets included—and who doesn’t. Kevin Ortiz traveled to all 32 NFL stadiums in a wheelchair to show how access, dignity, and mental health are deeply connected. Design choices matter. Inclusion matters.

DJ Michael “5000” Watts helped shape Houston hip-hop and always showed love back to the people. His family shared he passed from torsades de pointes, a dangerous heart rhythm that can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Honoring his legacy. 🕊️ #RIPDJMichaelWatts

We often honor scientific contributions long after the work is done. But some of the most important voices in medicine and public health are still here, still educating, still answering questions. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is one of them. Hidden figures don’t have to stay hidden.

Mental Health Monday. Being genuinely happy for your friends when it’s not your season is emotional maturity. Comparison steals peace. Growth protects it. Your timing is still valid.

Measles elimination meant the virus stopped spreading widely, not that it disappeared. Outbreaks like this happen when protection weakens. This is a reminder of how public health works and why prevention matters.

Flu ≠ detox. Symptoms = immune response. Detox = liver + kidneys. Medicine supports healing, not blocks it. This matters more than people realize.

Mental Health Monday. If you felt unsettled after this weekend, that reaction is valid. This isn’t about arguing or taking sides. It’s about mental health and choosing responses that help us stay grounded rather than overwhelmed. Do what’s within your capacity. Protect your peace.

The United States withdraws from the World Health Org. WHO coordinates disease surveillance, outbreak response, and global health guidance. Public health experts warn that reduced coordination can delay early warnings and weaken response systems. This is about health infrastructure, not politics.

Cancer isn’t one disease, so there was never going to be one cure. Five year survival across cancers is now ~70 percent because of clinical trials, vaccines, and early detection. Science works. Fund research.

Monday for me meant choosing learning over arguing. I spent the day learning more about Dr. King instead of engaging in online conflict. Sometimes that’s the healthiest option

Today we honor Martin Luther King Jr. on the King Holiday. He spoke about healthcare, labor, and dignity long before we had the language for health equity. This is a reminder that health has always been shaped by systems, not just individual choices.

All work has dignity. Gig work is honest work. And for people looking for more stability, healthcare has careers that most people are never told about. Medical courier, patient transport, scheduling, admissions, medical records, supply chain, admin roles. Opportunity starts with awareness.

Mental Health Monday question: Do you still nurture your Day One friendships and allow yourself to build Day Two friendships? Mental health isn’t always clinical. Sometimes it’s relational. #MentalHealthMonday #MensMentalHealth #FriendshipMatters #Brotherhood #MinorityHealthPartners

This flu season is not mild. Vaccines don’t replace your immune system. They train it before the fight starts. Preparation matters.

Honoring Dr. Janell Green Smith, a certified nurse midwife who died from childbirth-related complications after her first delivery. This is not speculation. It’s about maternal health disparities that continue to cost Black women their lives. We must do better.

Mental Health Monday: It’s 2026… let’s start off strong! 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Mental Health Monday reminder: Autism and ADHD are clinical diagnoses, not cultural interpretations. Faith, routine, and devotion are not diagnostic criteria. Precision reduces stigma. Language matters. #MentalHealthMonday #Autism #ADHD #HealthEquity

“If you have one real friend, you are blessed.” Today’s #MentalHealthMonday post is for my brother Keith Harris — and for every man still trying to stay strong alone. Loneliness kills. Connection heals. Friendship is medicine. #BlackMensMentalHealth #Brotherhood #KeithHarris

Former NBA player Jason Collins has shared that he has been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma. This is heavy news. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of brain cancer, and moments like this remind us how quickly life can change. Sending strength, compassion, and support to him and his loved ones

It’s Deductible December. If you met your deductible, December is the cheapest month of the year to get care. Everything resets January one. Check your portal and look at your deductible and out of pocket max.

As we wrap up 2025, what is one thing you want to finally start in 2026? A business A book School A new skill A personal goal Tell me below so we can support each other.

The PHQ-9 isn’t just a depression test. It’s a snapshot of how your environment is affecting your mind. Sleep. Energy. Concentration. Stress. Appetite. Hopelessness. This tool catches what many communities have been taught to hide.

Your health is not determined by willpower. It’s determined by conditions. Only 20% of health is personal choice. The other 80% comes from housing, food access, income, stress, transportation, education, and neighborhood safety. This is why certain communities carry heavier disease burdens.

Have you heard of people going “no contact” with their entire family? Not one person, but the whole family? Trying to understand how common this is. Have you seen it?

Indiana update: firings, apology, and new safety rules. Listening to Black women in labor is non-negotiable. #BlackMaternalHealth

Shedeur Sanders’ first NFL win is a masterclass in self-belief. People doubted him. He trusted his preparation. Mental health isn’t just surviving. It’s knowing who you are — even when others don’t see it yet. #MentalHealthMonday