Dr. Greywoode says he's
overwhelmed and appreciative
of the attention he's received,
but deflects some of the praise
by emphasizing that he does the
same thing for all of his patients
with long hair.
Ms. Marshall's emotional
response to the kind and
thoughtful care he provided
makes sense, according to Dr.
Greywoode. "In some ways,
though, it makes me sad," he
says. "Part of the sadness
comes from me having had
several other patients tell me
they were grateful I'm African
American, and felt more com-
fortable with me. It's unfortu-
nate some Black patients
don't trust the physicians
they see. I wish things were
different."
Dr. Greywoode is also
encouraged by Ms. Marshall's
comments because they show
him that what he strives to do
for his patients on a daily
basis comes across as caring
and compassionate. "That's
what I signed up for when I
became a surgeon," he
explains. "I'm glad to know
my efforts are working."
The underrepresentation of African Americans in
health care continues to be an issue and contributes
to the ongoing mistrust of the nation's health sys-
tem that many African Americans harbor, points out
Dr. Greywoode. He acknowledges that systemic
racism in medicine is a complex and layered prob-
lem, but says improving access to higher education
for African Americans who want to become physi-
cians is an important goal.
"This isn't about handouts," he says. "It's about
making sure opportunities are available for those
who want them."
Moving forward, Dr. Greywoode hopes conversa-
tions continue about how African Americans can
receive quality care from all physicians. He's
thought about the role he can play in keeping that
dialogue going. "I can be the safe space for my col-
leagues who might hesitate to bring up race-related
issues," he says. "If there's anything they want to
talk about, I'm ready to have those discussions in an
open and honest way."
"Being Black in America is a different experience
— that's the reality," continues Dr. Greywoode. "We
need to continue having these conversations and
validating the experiences of all patients."
OSM
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E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 1 5
KIND AND CARING Jewel Greywoode, MD, understands the importance of preserving patients' hair.