Marcus Howard, Ph.D.

janvier 25, 2021 — People (fr)

After moving away to earn a Ph.D. and teach, Dr. Howard, who grew up on St. Louis’ north side, always knew he wanted to return home. But he wanted a comeback with purpose. Now, Howard has it: launching a Black-owned pharmacy and wellness center to provide culturally competent health care, scheduled to open fall 2021/spring 2022. African-Americans here are disproportionately affected by conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and infectious diseases like COVID-19. Black-owned pharmacies provide services like genetic testing, medication education, and weight loss programs to improve health outcomes. « It’s specific things that focus on what communities of color are experiencing, » Howard says. « [At a chain pharmacy], you walk up, you get your medicine, and you walk away. For communities of color, that’s not enough ».

 

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