With COVID 19 and the movement for racial equality, Dr. Karen Schooler explains that access to quality healthcare for vulnerable communities has become one of our most pressing issues. She is utilizing her unique position to assist in providing access to care for the underserved.
Patients without health insurance, who are low-income, who experience homelessness or housing insecurity, who struggle with substance abuse, or who have insecure immigration status face a litany of care access barriers that can be hazardous to patient health. Because these populations are traditionally marginalized, they may struggle to navigate the medical industry, lack the social support to get to a doctor’s office, be untrusting of the medical establishment, or simply not be able to afford healthcare at a brick and mortar clinic.
As President of the Greensboro Medial Society, Dr Schooler has collaborated with Winston Salem State, A&T, The Grand Magnolias Philanthropy Group, Old North State Medical Society and other organizations to bring Mobile Health Clinics to underserved communities in our area. Mobile Health Clinics are part of a new initiative of academia and the community working together to provide a quality care option for those who face extraordinary challenges accessing care. The mobile clinics are one way to help prevent chronic disease and serious problems by identifying health concerns early.
Dr. Schooler is a new member of Women to Women, whose passion and clarity come at a time when we need it most. Her efforts to help fill in care gaps in order to make Greensboro better for everyone is a blueprint we all should follow. In terms of the future, she hopes that Women to Women will send a new and bold message to amplify the voices of minorities as we work to be better stewards of their time and talents.
Author: Carrie Little