Reviewed by: Patience Itson
Discover how one local program is encouraging diversity in healthcare
Reading time: 4 minutes
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While scaling their impact across the nation and making the Inc 5000 list for the business’ rapid growth, Birmingham-based Acclinate remains committed to empowering local communities when it comes to their health.
Meanwhile, The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center has significantly impacted health disparities since its inception.
One of the ways these dedicated organizations have joined forces is through a communications engine that provides reliable and trustworthy health-related information to minority communities.
Keep reading to learn more about how it works and why it matters.
A passion for health equity
By conducting research and collaborating with communities, UAB’s Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center has developed effective interventions to address health disparities.
Their dedication to community involvement is clear in their focus on understanding the unique needs of underserved populations, ensuring that solutions are culturally relevant and promote health equity for all.
The power of this partnership between UAB and Acclinate is shown through testimonials of individuals like Ricky Crenshaw.
Ricky is an Alabama native retired from construction and the ministry. Ricky’s once-active life came to an abrupt pause when he was diagnosed with Long COVID in February 2022.
This led to the biggest battle of his life.
Ricky spent 35 days in a medically-induced coma in the critical care unit. When his oxygen levels were deemed safe, he was moved to a step-down recovery unit for 30 days. He was in the hospital for a total of 82 days before being allowed to finally return home.
In February 2023, Ricky heard about a focus group hosted by UAB and decided to get involved by sharing his COVID story and helping bring awareness to the importance of vaccination, especially to those in Birmingham’s underserved communities.
About the AL CEAL Communications Engine
COVID-19 and other health illnesses’ disproportionate impact on Birmingham’s Black community contributes to a general distrust in the U.S. healthcare system within these communities.
This is where the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) and Acclinate stepped in, with a goal of building trust with the Black community and other communities of color so they can make informed decisions about their health.
The Alabama Community Engagement Alliance (AL CEAL), powered by UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Community Engagement, partnered with Acclinate to initiate the Communications Engine in August 2020. The Communications Engine was designed address the challenge of disseminating reliable COVID-19 information to disproportionately affected communities.
“No one understands a community better than the people who live, learn and work there.
The Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center’s (MHERC) Community Engagement strives to ensure that the voice of the community is present in research, interventions and projects designed to address health equity.”
via Acclinate’s website
Fun fact: The AL CEAL Communications Engine has effectively raised awareness among over 50,000 Alabamians since June 2022!
Champions for diversity in healthcare
People listen to people they trust. In Black communities surrounding Birmingham, many organizations with diverse and influential members have a history of service to their neighborhoods.
Check out more stories on individuals impacting Birmingham thanks to Acclinate, AL CEAL and UAB:
- This Birmingham man is using his healthcare journey to encourage locals.
- Meet the Birmingham pastor bringing fire to health equity for the local community.
- Walladean Streeter, hero of Bush Hills, on why you need to get involved.
See the work Acclinate + AL CEAL are doing for underrepresented groups in Birmingham.
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