WIM HonorS Juneteenth: Freedom Must Include the Freedom to Heal
Freedom Must Include the Freedom to Heal
On June 19, 1865, 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were finally told they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Freedom had been declared. But it had not been delivered.
Juneteenth marks that distance: between a promise made and a promise lived. And as we pause to honor this day, we at Women in Medicine® are asking a direct question: What does freedom look like in healthcare?
Because that distance still exists. It shows up in who gets access to care. Who is heard. Who is believed. Who sees themselves reflected in their doctor. And who continues to face preventable, life-altering gaps in health outcomes.
The Gaps Are Real, and Deadly
The data is clear. The infant mortality rate for Black infants is approximately 2.4 times the rate for White infants (CDC). Around 100 million Americans live in a primary-care health professional shortage area, with Black communities disproportionately affected (HRSA/HHS). Black patients are still more likely to experience delayed diagnoses, undertreatment, and lower-quality care.
Being granted access is not the same as experiencing freedom. And until every patient can walk into a healthcare setting and feel safe, seen, and well-cared for, the work is not done.
“Juneteenth reminds us that [doing right by every patient] is not optional — because you cannot celebrate historical emancipation while ignoring the modern gaps in care that threaten our communities. ”
Having Doctors Who Reflect Their Communities Changes Outcomes
Research confirms what many have long known to be true: greater Black primary care physician representation is associated with longer life expectancy and lower mortality among Black communities (Snyder et al., 2023).
Having doctors who reflect their patients isn't symbolic. It's structural. It changes which questions are asked, which symptoms are taken seriously, and which care is delivered.
“I think of Juneteenth as an opportunity to recognize the importance of visibility. Everyone deserves to feel seen and to feel heard, especially by their doctor — and that is empowering. We need to make sure that there are doctors who are sensitive to that and understand that. Representation is a clinical necessity. When patients see themselves reflected in their doctors, it breaks down generations of earned medical mistrust.”
WIM’s Commitment
This Juneteenth, Women in Medicine®honors Black healthcare professionals - the physicians, nurses, researchers, and advocates who show up every day to close these gaps, build trust, and deliver excellent care for every patient they serve. And we recommit to better outcomes for Black patients. Not as a season. As a standard. Freedom must include the freedom to live, heal, and thrive. We're building toward that, together.
Want to be part of the movement? Learn more about becoming a WIMbassador and join the community of women in medicine who are showing up and speaking up.
