Dr. Joseph E. Ravenell is working to reduce cancer health disparities in the Black community through multiple outreach programs, including at barbershops.
Photo: Joshua Bright
Since medical school, , associate professor in the Departments of and , has been working to address the health disparities that affect communities of color, and in particular, the Black community.
By partnering with barbershops, Dr. Ravenell engages with Black men to raise awareness about hypertension (with the Department of Population Health) and colorectal cancer (with the Department of Population Health and 嘿嘿视频 Health鈥檚 Perlmutter Cancer Center). Dr. Ravenell also co-directs the Beatrice W. Welters Breast Health Outreach and Navigation Program, which engages with Black women to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Dr. Ravenell and David Brown, a peer advocate in the who works with Dr. Ravenell on the barbershop outreach program, talk about their work to improve cancer health equity in the Black community with Cancer Support Community鈥檚 Frankly Speaking About Cancer podcast.
鈥淚 learned that barbers are phenomenally talented people who know how to connect with people and how to get their customers to really get involved in their health. They are incredible allies and trusted key opinion leaders,鈥 says Dr. Ravenell, who is co-leader of Perlmutter Cancer Center鈥檚 Community Outreach and Engagement Program. 鈥淲henever we鈥檙e talking about health equity for any community, I think finding those trusted leaders in whatever community you are talking about is the key to us starting to achieve equity.鈥
Listen to Dr. Ravenell鈥檚 entire interview with .
