Doctor and Voice of Sociohistorical Justice in Medicine
In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we are joined by Dr. Carmen Black, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and Vice Chair of Education for the Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Black shares her journey as a clinician and scholar whose work centers on Sociohistorical Justice, a framework that examines how historical lived experiences and generational context shape health, identity, and clinical care within Black American communities. During this episode we talk about how generational and ethnic differences among Black Americans influence clinical encounters, patient trust, and health outcomes, as well as the common misconceptions clinicians may hold when approaching Black patient populations. Dr. Black discusses how these differences manifest in real-world psychiatric and medical settings and why acknowledging historical and structural context is essential for delivering equitable care. We also explore what it looks like when healthcare systems and clinicians meaningfully integrate sociohistorical awareness into practice, and the barriers that continue to prevent this from happening at scale. Finally, Dr. Black offers guidance for clinicians and trainees on how to begin engaging with this work in a thoughtful, respectful, and impactful way. To learn more about Dr. Black and her work, you can visit the following links: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10401334.2025.2521473 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-025-02699-w https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10459-026-10541-z You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!
