Breaking Down Barriers: Sharon Alexander’s Call for Humanity in Healthcare
Written by Yasmeena Jones, PII 2025 Summer Intern
When Being Heard Becomes a Battle
Sharon's journey through the healthcare system reveals a disturbing pattern that many multicultural women know all too well. "They don't listen," she explains. "I imagine that they come at you with things already in mind, turn off their listening because they already decided what is going on with you."
This reality hit close to home when Sharon watched her mother navigate repeated hospital visits. Her mom "wouldn't be listened to and didn't feel heard." Sharon found herself stepping into the role of advocate, becoming that crucial voice her mother needed to receive proper health care.
The disparities became even more apparent during Sharon's own emergency room visit for the flu. Despite arriving first, she watched a white woman who came in after her get seen immediately. She overheard a worker acknowledge the mistake, but no apology ever came. "It happens more than it should," Sharon reflects, "especially in a position of vulnerability."
Finding the Right Care Team
Not all of Sharon's experiences have been disturbing. She's found success with Dr. Mei Tsi Lawing, someone who takes the time to listen and communicate effectively. "She's always been very receptive to extreme detail and has learned that I am a researcher," Sharon says. This partnership works because it's built on mutual respect and understanding.
Sharon's approach is strategic—she researches thoroughly before appointments and comes prepared with detailed lists of her concerns. When she broke her finger and was dismissed with just Tylenol at one facility, her trusted doctor said she should have called her instead: "She would've taken care of me."
The Need for Systemic Change
"Racism and bias is so institutionalized in the United States that there is no one remedy," Sharon acknowledges. But she believes change is possible if healthcare providers can "learn to move out of the way of their biases and deal with the human being."
Her solution is profound in its simplicity: healthcare workers need "a debriefing or life reset before seeing patients so they view patients as human beings." She emphasizes that "women are the face of healthcare" and calls for more compassion, empathy, and humanity in every medical interaction.
As an Expert by Experience with the Patient Insight Institute for three years, Sharon continues advocating for meaningful change, ensuring voices like hers are heard in shaping better healthcare and patient-centered outcomes for all.