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Ask The Doctor

By NCP/Woodlawn and TWO Health and Human Services Committee on Sunday, January 18, 2009

Overview

The Ask the Doctor initiative was borne out of discussions that arose from the Life Smart for Women Program at the St. Ailbe Catholic Church developed and funded by the state of Illinois Department of Public Health. The program was managed there by the Health and Wellness Ministry and was subsequently transferred to the Woodlawn community, New Community Program/Woodlawn (NCP) and The Woodlawn Organization (TWO) Health and Human Services Committee.

What is it

The Ask the Doctor program is one that engages community stakeholders to express medical concerns anonymously. The questions are responded to and explained by a physician in a seminar format at a Woodlawn community facility. This approach encourages people to ask questions they have always been afraid to ask, but always wanted to have answered, without embarrassment.

How it began

This initiative began with stakeholders submitting medical questions on index cards to NCP/TWO committee members that were later given to the participating physician for review to ensure appropriate responses. Meetings were advertised thru diverse media and scheduled to ensure availability to the community at large. The 1st meeting, held on April 8, 2008, was held at the Bessie Coleman Library on 63rd St. Subsequent meetings were held at 6250 South Park Shore East. Attendance has grown from 6 attendees initially to an average of 35-40 people per session. In addition to the medical content, socialization is inherent and light refreshments are provided. Each session is 1.5 hours in duration.

Program Expansion

Dr. Thomas Fisher, M.D.

The program has expanded from responding to anonymous questions to reviewing the 7 part PBS Documentary Series, “Unnatural Causes.” A lively and probing discussion follows review of the video and is conducted by our partner physician, Thomas Fisher, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Program Expansion: PBS Documentary, “Unnatural Causes”

Topics included in the documentary are:

1.

“In Sickness and In Health,” which raises the question “Is inequality making us sick?”

2.

“When the Bough Breaks,” a segment that examines the mystery of the Black-white infant mortality gap.

3.

“Becoming American,” which sheds light on the shifting health status of newly arrived Latino immigrants.

4.

“Bad Sugar,” a two topic presentation with Part 1 exploring the causes and effects of diabetes within two Native American communities; Part 2 “Place Matters” connects the dots between health, wealth and zip codes.

5.

“Collateral Damage” traces the health challenges of Marshall Islanders from the South Pacific to Springdale, Arkansas. The second part of this segment explores the toll taken by layoffs and job insecurity in Western Michigan.

Future Goals

The Health and Human Services Committee, NCP Woodlawn and TWO will continue to address the issues of health education, screening and promotion.

While the program has been open to a diverse group, our central population has been middle aged and senior participants. We will actively pursue youth, and teen parents. We hope to achieve this goal through partnerships with the NCP Youth Committee and community agencies.