Presented by:
Dr. Eugene E. Wright, Jr., Dr. Patrick Gee, PhD, Thelma B., Noelle Bush
Sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim / Lilly
Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly partnered with hip-hop pioneer Rob Base on a campaign to convert his classic hit “It Takes Two” into a healthy rallying cry. The “It Takes Two” campaign promotes the idea that blood and urine tests are used to gauge one’s kidney health accurately. It also reminds patients that they have a role in managing their health and that the responsibility doesn’t fail solely to their provider.
Dr. Eugene E. Wright, Jr., Dr. Patrick Gee, PhD., and healthcare advocate Thelma B. shared their experiences with Noelle Bush at the BHM Winter 2024 Summit.
Thelma shared why she felt it was important to lend her time and energy to the It Takes Two campaign. “We know that rap and hip-hop have been the genre of music used throughout our culture to talk about the controversies and social and economic things,” she said. “I partner because the campaign aligns with what has saved my life.
Why is advocacy key?
Thelma reinforced the messages from the campaign by sharing how she doubles up in medical settings. “I advocate for my parents quite often,” said Thelma. “It’s vital to advocate for yourself because knowledge is power.”
She noted that Black patients can face stereotypes that paint a picture of them as ambivalent about their health to providers. “There’s a lot of biases, a lot of assumptions about what we can or cannot afford, what we’re willing or not willing to do,” she continued.
Dr. Wright has witnessed the power of advocacy in his practice. “As a primary care physician on the front line, there are a lot of things that we have to deal with lots of our patients, but I will tell you there’s nothing more impactful than when a patient comes in as their advocate,” he said. “If you hear nothing else from me, be your best advocate. Go in and ask questions.” He also recommended jotting down notes to recall what you are being told accurately.
Both Patrick and Thelma described being shocked by their diagnosis. Patrick was informed that his levels were so elevated that he should not even be alive during a routine workday. The news changed his life forever.
What are providers missing?
Thelma was dismissed as a child when she exhibited symptoms. “I was 12 years old. And I used to suffer with a lot of swelling in my hands and my feet,” she said. Weight stigma blocked her from receiving adequate treatment from her provider. “Now, this man never touched me, never ran a test. But he judged this book by its cover and said, I need to lose weight.”
She did not receive an accurate diagnosis until she was an adult seeking care in a different zip code. The familiarity of the symptoms made her realize that she would have been fighting the illness her whole life without knowing it. “I was dumbfounded. I was clueless. I didn’t know what to do. So, when I realized that this is something that could have plagued me since I was a kid, it was devastating,” she said.
The harrowing experience made her passionate about empowering patients. “I’m here to tell you all that experience has taught me the importance of using your voice and speaking up,” she continued.
How You Can Take Action
- Ask your doctors to talk to one another. Pressing the issue can be awkward, but your providers should communicate and agree on how best to serve your healthcare goals.
- Learn the signs. Research what kind of symptoms are associated with kidney disease.
- Document what you’re being told by healthcare professionals so that you can recall it later when you need to.
