Racism in Public Health and Medicine & What You Need to Know About the Covid-19 Vaccines (with Dr. Chris Pernell)

How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield

In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Dr. Chris Pernell, a dynamic physician leader, health and wellness visionary, and social change agent. She’s a charismatic and leading voice in preventative medicine and public health and is currently working as a senior executive in a hospital in New Jersey. Chris is here to talk about her journey and her mission of educating the black and brown communities about the Covid-19 vaccines.

Chris grew up in a New Jersey school that lacked diversity, yet she knew and saw black excellence in her community. Her experience with prejudice shaped her sense of voice and advocacy, teaching her how to use her voice and stand up for herself at a young age. Chris knew she wanted to be a doctor since the sixth grade and has truly been prepared for her current roles since high school.

Chris details how attending Princeton University was a challenge academically and culturally, along with how taking two gap years lead to massive growth and expansion in her skills, later distinguishing her in medical school. She describes how her faith and her family helps her endure through life’s challenges, why it was important for her to take on the role of preventative medicine and public health physician, and why she participated in the Covid-19 vaccine trials. She also offers insight into her experience getting the Moderna vaccine and its accompanying symptoms.

“Historically, that is one of the inequities that we have to work on. Black and brown persons do not participate in clinical research in the levels that are equivalent to their representation of a population… and that’s for a host of reasons.”- Dr. Chris Pernell

Stay tuned to hear about Chris’s disappointing encounter with Ben Carson and how she overcame a life-threatening illness while in her internship. Plus, she shares powerful advice on overcoming adversity and setbacks in life.

“Don’t be afraid to put certain dreams out to pasture, as long as you don’t put you out to pasture.”- Dr. Chris Pernell

Connect with Dr. Chris Pernell:

Visit her website: www.drchrispernell.com

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegooddoctormd

Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeClinic101

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrChrisMD

Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drctp

About the Host:

Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.

With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.

The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”

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@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr

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