NYC Gazette

Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, in recognition of Black History Month, hosted an event titled “Untold Stories in Health Equity.” This event was organized by the African, Black, and Caribbean Employee Resource Group along with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. It aimed to highlight overlooked leaders in health care and encourage participants to document and share untold stories.

The session was led by an associate professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The professor shared her interest in history from a young age, focusing on overlooked parts and diverse perspectives. "My fascination with history started with an interest in what we do not know," she said.

During the event, she discussed stories such as that of Alexander Thomas Augusta, the first Black surgeon commissioned in the Union Army during the Civil War and the first Black professor of medicine in the United States. Through research into Augusta’s life via documents and interviews with his descendants, she realized other important stories might have been lost over time.

Incorporating various perspectives is essential for understanding history's cultural narrative. She encouraged attendees to start from curiosity and assume available information is incomplete since more perspectives can always be found. “Pursuing a more complete understanding of our history allows us to move forward to our present and our future,” she stated.

Attendees participated in exercises to uncover more stories from their families and communities. These stories were shared within the group, with offers for assistance in promoting them further.

A fireside chat followed between her and Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, associate professor of pediatrics at HICCC. They explored how untold stories can aid social change towards health equity. “I think it's extremely difficult to have equity conversations when there are whole peoples missing from the conversation,” she remarked.

The event underscored that recognizing contributions from all peoples is crucial for genuine discussions about health equity. “It’s a lot of work, but that needs to be rectified, and it starts with all of us,” she concluded.