By Edward Henderson, California Black Media  

Living in California has been a dream come true for screenwriter Imani Quinn. She counts the Los Angeles-area weather, professional opportunities and proximity to close friends as some of the things that have made the experience especially rewarding for her.

However, when Quinn discovered she was pregnant, finding a good physician to help guide her along that journey became her number one priority – and greatest pain point.

Like many African Americans in California, Quinn said she found it difficult to find a physician who relates to her culturally, considers her lived experiences, and acknowledges the deep-seated racial biases that have been imbued in the health care delivery system historically in the United States.

“It was important because Black women have one of the highest mortality rates with childbirth, childbearing,” said Quinn. “I wanted to make sure that I was in the hands of somebody who knew how to prioritize my health as a Black woman — someone who knows the statistics and knows what to look for and makes me feel safe and comfortable.”

In 2021, the percentage of Black infants in California who were born preterm (12.7%) or who had low birthweight (12.4%) was higher than those of other races/ethnicities. Black mothers/birthing people experienced the highest maternal mortality rate among all races/ethnicities between 2018 and 2020.

A California Health Care Foundation study published in May 2024 on heath disparities by race and ethnicity in the state found that Black Californians had the shortest life expectancy at 74.6 years. One in four Black respondents in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) felt they could have received better care if they were a different race/ethnicity.

Given these staggering statistics, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris, an internal physician and medical advocate based in Oakland, says it is urgent for Black physicians to provide the extra care and attention to improve these numbers.

A 2023 research study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that evaluated all 1618 counties in the United States found that the life expectancy for Blacks was higher in areas where there were higher concentrations of Black doctors.

But how can Black Californians find them? California Black Media spoke with Newell-Harris about some strategies.

“The best recommendations come from patients, not doctors,” she said “At the end of the day, your physician has to be a professional that meets your needs. Somebody that’s willing to listen to you. Somebody that’s going to be available to see you. Somebody who works with you — whatever your situation is.”

Newell-Harris recommends consulting the National Medical Association in addition to seeking counsel from other Black organizations like churches, fraternities/sororities and local chapters of the NAACP to network and get doctor recommendations from other patients.

Another useful resource for Black Californians seeking the right doctor is myblacktelehealth.com, Newell says. For Black women, there is  asktia.com.

Newell says the process may take a little more time, but it is a way to get access to a network of physicians of color and others who have a proven record of success working with Black patients.

In South L.A., where there is one of the highest concentrations of Black Californians in the state — 28% of a population of about 271,000 – the shortage of doctors is acute. Therefore, the chance of finding an available Black doctor or culturally competent one is even more challenging.

“It’s a starting point if you are completely at your wit’s end,” she added.

Quinn says her search for a Black physician in the Los Angeles area began online, consulting social media groups and women’s wellness spaces in Los Angeles.

“They referred me to some OB’s. But they were all White, majority of them were men. I was surprised at how much these institutions don’t have these resources to help people find the kind of OB that they want. So, I ended up doing a lot of my own research just by, like, Googling people.”

According to a 2020 study, only 3% of California’s physicians are Black.

According to Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of the MLK Community Health Center hospital in South LA, the region needs more doctors.

“There are 39 physicians per 100,000 residents in South LA,” Batchlor said in a statement. “Compare that with 1,000 physicians for the same population in Los Angeles’s west side. The physician gap in this community is the next mountain we must move.”

An additional option, experts say, to work around the shortage of Black physicians in California is Telehealth. The medium, which gained popularity during the pandemic, has many benefits when it comes to consulting Black physicians across the state – or even the country — if one is not available in your city.

“Telehealth can be utilized for so many ways,” said Newell-Harris. “If you’re in a rural area and the specialist is far, then it helps to be able to get a telehealth visit. It can be a lifeline.”

However, Newell-Harris only recommends using telehealth for specialists and emphasizes that it is not a substitution for a primary care physician. She stressed the importance of seeing an in-person physician for important heath concerns that need to be diagnosed in person.

Some PCPs also offer telehealth visits for some routine checkups and other services.

For Quinn and many other Black Californians, sometimes finding the right doctor for you might be driving a little farther to another city or community in your region.

Luckily, Quinn said she saved a contact she made while hosting a podcast and was able to get a referral to a Black physician based in Los Angeles.

“I’ve gone to her for a visit so far and had communication with her. There’s an alignment just from a lifestyle place. And then just, yeah, her being a Black woman and being knowledgeable about, different genetic things that we can get that are more race specific, Quinn shared. “The experience was warm and welcoming.”

This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates and patients.

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