This workshop explores racism and medical trauma as primary factors to racial disparities in the African American community. Participants will identify medical trauma endured by African Americans throughout American history and explore how these events and policies have negatively impacted the black community's current perception on the healthcare system.

Racism as the Diagnosis: Exploring Racism and Medical Trauma as Social Determinates of Health and Effective Strategies for Change is a workshop that explores the impact of racism and medical trauma on health and health behaviors in the African American Community. 
 
 During the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, racial healthcare disparities have been a focal point for many with the CDC declaring race a social determinate for increased sickness and death from Covid-19. Covid-19 has highlighted the racial disparities in healthcare as well as the continued mistrust of the healthcare system within the African American Community. Not only are African Americans disproportionately represented in Covid-19 related deaths and hospitalizations, but also in mistrust of the healthcare system. 
 
 This workshop explores racism and medical trauma as primary factors to racial disparities in the African American community. Participants of this workshop will identify medical trauma and federal policy endured by African Americans throughout American history and explore how these events and policies have negatively impacted the black community's perspective on the healthcare system.
 
 After gaining a foundational understanding of racism’s impact on healthcare in the black community, this workshop will discuss evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies practitioners and other healthcare professionals can implement to empower African Americans to build trust in their healthcare system and increase participation in health management. 
 
 This workshop will utilize a combination of video, polling, and zoom chat to effectively engage attendees.