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Message from Loretta V. Bush, CEO, Authority Health...
With summer here, we reflect on the end of COVID restrictions, Pride Month, and Men’s Health Month
June has been an extremely busy month, as we have begun our re-entry to full in-office work schedule at Authority Health. At the same time, we began a partnership with Gospel Against AIDS to provide COVID-19 vaccines to populations they serve who may be disconnected from the vaccine programs that have been available to Detroit residents. At this point, it’s essential that community health organizations like Authority Health find ways to reach marginalized populations with the vaccine.
June is Pride Month, an important time for all to consider the importance of inclusion of all people, including the LGBTQ community in society. Pride Month is also an opportunity to consider the health needs of this community, which experiences significant health disparities.

Additionally, June is Men’s Health Month. Robert Thornton, a member of the Authority Health Board of Directors, offers a commentary on the call to leadership for men to promote health and well-being.

As many of us are experiencing graduations of various forms among family and friends, the Authority Health family said good-bye to 21 of its primary care residents, more than half of whom have established their medical practices in underserved communities.
              
With COVD restrictions loosened in much of our lives, I hope all of you remain healthy and enjoy the summer ahead.

In health,

Loretta V. Bush, MSHA
Men’s Health Month: Men must lead in promoting the COVID-19 vaccine
Authority Healthy thanks Robert Thornton for providing this commentary during Men’s Health Month

It’s over. Masks off. Summertime. We’re getting back to normal. Getting back to the grill.

It’s tempting to think that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. It’s far from over. And despite the accessibility of vaccines, less than 50 percent of our state is immunized. More women are getting vaccines than men, despite the fact that more men are dying from the disease than women.
 
Men are supposed to be tough. Men are also supposed to lead. This is a time for leadership. Whether we are religious leaders, business leaders, or elected officials, men need to lead on this issue so we can continue to turn the corner and beat this pandemic.
 
With leadership comes much responsibility. Leaders are duty-bound to use their voices and our positions to advance community health. We’re not hearing enough loud, credible voices on this. Whatever the reasons are for vaccine hesitancy we – men -- need to speak to it. Millions of people have been immunized. Only a tiny fraction have had adverse reactions to the vaccine. This is the only way we will beat the coronavirus.
We’re not going to be able to change attitudes overnight, but what we can do is help them be better informed. Now is the tough part. People who wanted the vaccine, have it. People may want it and can’t get it. We need to get it to them. For those who say they don’t want it – we need to talk to them. And keep talking to them.

Maybe you are apprehensive about it. Maybe you think you are invulnerable to the disease. Maybe you believe that God will provide for you. The Lord has blessed you with wisdom and choice. You have to exercise that. Look at the facts. The value far exceeds the perceived risk.

You are part of a broader community. Being part of that community brings much responsibility. Part of that responsibility is to not put others at risk. You may not feel sick, but that doesn’t mean you can’t carry it and give it to someone who gets severe COVID disease and dies.

Men who know better are expected to do better. This pandemic is not over. If we don’t reach herd immunity, we may have it with us for months to come.
 
We can’t have this thing stall now. This ball is in our court. It’s time to take care of the ball.

Celebrate Men’s Health Month by demonstrating our commitment to health as men.

Robert Thornton is a member of the Authority Health Board of Directors 
Authority Health's 2021 GME Residency Completion Celebration
VIDEO
Authority Health celebrates the 2021graduates of the Graduate Medical Education program with a virtual ceremony.
Authority Health Staff Participates in
CPR and AED Lifesaving Training
Knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR steps and administering them correctly can help save a life during a cardiac or breathing emergency. Recent the Authority Health staff participated in CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.
Fathers Play Positive Role in Children's Health and Well-Being
June is a month for honoring fathers. Authority Health recognizes the important role fathers play in the health and wellness of their child(ren).

We caught up with a few fathers at the Anne Mare Ice Family Health Center as they brought their little ones in for their healthy-child visits.
Pictured left to right: Antonio Nobles with daughter Protege Alexander (18 months), and Dwayne Price with daughter Angel Price (5 months)
Community Health Blog: ‘Pride’ in improved awareness of LGBTQ needs and health professional training
As the nation commemorates Pride Month, it is reassuring that the health disparities among people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender have received significant attention from policymakers in the last several years, according to “Addressing Health Care Disparities in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Population: A Review of Best Practices,” published in the American Journal of Nursing. The article notes that health care disparities affecting this population are closely tied to the sexual and social stigma that lingers to this day. This has resulted in social determinants that affect the health of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning) people, including legal discrimination regarding access to health insurance, a lack of appropriate social programs, and a shortage of providers who are culturally competent in and knowledgeable about LGBTQ health.

Lindsay Toman, a 2017-18 Albert Schweitzer Fellow, studied disparities among people with reference to the quality of medical care they receive, and specifically the preparation of medical students to care for this population. Through her research, Toman learned that various groups that comprise the LGBTQ community have health risks that are unique to their specific groups. READ MORE
New GME Residents Receives White Coats
Administrative Director of GME, Angela Cole, and Administrative Manager of GME, Camille McKinley preps white coats for new resident photos.

Authority Health welcomed it's ninth cohort of residents during orientation week, June 21 -25. Residents were presented with their Authority Health white coats.

"Our Residents are super excited, as they should be, about transitioning from their short Medical Student lab coats to their full length Resident Physician lab coats," says Administrative Director for GME, Angela Cole.

Authority Health has seven new Family Medicine, four Internal Medicine, seven Pediatric, and five Psychiatry residents.
Internal Medicine Coordinator, Cierra Ballenger fits new resident, Chris Salazar-Fields, MD for his new white coat.
Authority Health is a public body corporate serving the needs of the health care safety net. It sponsors the nation’s second-largest graduate medical education teaching health center and community-based wellness centers. In addition, Authority Health provides extensive enrollment and navigation services, as well as professional training opportunities.

Authority Health | 313.871.3751 | media@authorityhealth.org | www.authorityhealth.org