Dr. Maxine Owusu is on a mission to close the health disparity gap impacting Black women, particularly when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
According to a report from the University of Illinois Chicago, Black women have significantly higher rates of STIs, despite engaging in fewer risky sexual behaviors compared to white women. These alarming statistics highlight systemic issues in healthcare access and education, areas where Dr. Owusu is making a powerful impact.
As an emergency room physician working in hospitals across Atlanta, Dr. Owusu witnessed firsthand how disproportionately affected Black women are by sexually transmitted diseases.
“I noticed that a lot of people I was caring for were Black women,” Dr. Owusu shared with Black Enterprise. “The underlying issue, especially among young Black women, is miseducation and not having access to a gynecologist.”
Dr. Owusu emphasizes that these disparities are rooted in institutionalized racism, lack of healthcare education, and mistrust of the medical system.
Many Black women, she says, fear they will not be taken seriously by healthcare providers, leading them to delay or avoid seeking care altogether.
This systemic mistrust is compounded by the lack of culturally competent medical professionals who can address the specific needs of Black patients.
Championing Culturally Competent Care
Dr. Owusu has experienced these challenges personally. After delivering her children, she encountered postpartum care delays, which were only mitigated thanks to her sister, a midwife.
This personal experience fuels her commitment to advocating for Black women to seek culturally competent care teams that truly understand their needs.
“Even if you have a Black physician or provider that you’re comfortable with, if the nurse or the tech isn’t culturally competent, it can cause a delay in care,” she explains.
Dr. Owusu stresses the importance of Black women ensuring they have a care team that listens to their concerns and acts swiftly to prevent complications.
A Health Advocate for the Community
Dr. Owusu goes beyond her work in the emergency room by partnering with her church, Manifest Church in Atlanta, to provide free health screenings and health fairs.
Her goal is to make healthcare more accessible and create a welcoming environment where Black women feel understood and supported.
“It’s important to make our community more comfortable,” says Dr. Owusu. “There are so many complications from sexually transmitted diseases. When untreated, they can lead to infertility, and many women don’t know that.”
Dr. Owusu is also paving the way for future generations of Black physicians. She mentors aspiring doctors, authored a children’s book titled Curious Rosie: A Trip to the Hospital, and launched a set of anatomy toys to introduce young children to medical concepts.
“By starting these conversations at a younger age and introducing medical topics in a fun way, I think more kids will grow up more aware,” says Dr. Owusu.
Her initiatives aim to remove the fear associated with doctor visits and encourage young people to take charge of their health.
