“Health is really a social transaction that has a scientific base. You need to have doctors who have the basic knowledge, but that alone is not enough.  You have to have a physician that is able to communicate in a way a patient understands.” - Dr. Louis Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

From 2008 to 2009 the number of people without health insurance rose from 46.3 million (15.4%) to 50.7 million (16.7%)

In 2009, 50.4% of HIV diagnoses were Black/African-American, 27.5% were White, and 19.2% Hispanic/Latino.

Elderly black patients were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital after a prior hospital stay for a heart attack, heart failure, or pneumonia according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health researchers.

2020 Life expectancy projections:

• White Males 77.7
• Black Males 72.6
• White Females 82.4
• Black Females 79.2

Sources:

Kaiser Health News

Avert.org

U.S. Census Bureau

Harvard School of Public Health

“Self knowledge comes too late and by the time I’ve known myself I am no longer what I was.” – Mabel Segun, from Reflections – Nigerian Prose and Verse

The recession has lead to a decrease in financial donations to charitable organizations from corporations. In response to this, several corporations have emphasized programs where employees volunteer their time for a cause instead of a check. Corporations in the 21st century are often maligned as evil entities concerned only with the bottom line. Even altruistic acts like charitable donations are met with skepticism, often with an inference of strings attached, whether as a tax break or a favor in a future business deal. This new volunteer program not only enables employees to have a direct effect on a community, but also represents a shift in mentality of young employers in several ways:

•   Being a well rounded individual is arguably the most important idea driving twenty somethings in the workforce. This generation sees a job as something that represents or compliments their personal lives. The line between work and life has never been more ambiguous. As twenty-somethings look for fulfillment, volunteer efforts are much more in line with this altruistic nature. One works, one makes money, and one gives back.

•   Several books have been written about the joy of working on tangible and practical projects. Punching numbers into a spreadsheet can be abstract. Serving food to the less fortunate is concrete and immediate. Seeing the physical end product can be a revitalizing experience for the employee.

The most ambitious of these programs is United Way’s “Loaned Executive Program” taking place over a 15 week span. Although this is an extreme example, there are countless numbers of ways to get involved your community for as little as a couple hours a week.