This episode features our esteemed guests, Dr. Gloria McNeal, Associate Vice President for Community Affairs in Health at National University, and Dr. Ricardo Parker, a professor and academic program director at the Department of Health Services School of Health Professions. Together, we unpack the complex, deeply-rooted issue of institutional racism in healthcare in the United States. Despite the high medical standards our nation boasts, it's a sobering reality that our healthcare outcomes rank as the worst among industrialized nations. Listen in as McNeal and Parker share their personal experiences and the steps they're taking in their respective roles toward effecting change.

Through our riveting discussion, we dissect the clear-cut influence of racism in creating health disparities, notably in life expectancy, access to health insurance, and trust in the healthcare system among different racial groups. We delve into the dark history of medical experiments conducted without consent, such as the Tuskegee and J. Marion Sims experiments, and their lingering repercussions. As we navigate the murky waters of structural racism's impact on healthcare costs, quality, and life expectancy, we underline the essential role of primary care services in underserved communities.

We don't shy away from examining the hard-hitting racial disparities in healthcare during the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgency for a patient-centered approach in today's healthcare. We spotlight the challenges posed by the pandemic in healthcare education and access, and how institutions like National University are harnessing technology like virtual reality for the training of future healthcare professionals. You're in for an enlightening and transformative episode that aims to broaden your understanding of racism in healthcare and ignite change.