In 2017, Kimberly Wilson spent six months in and out of a New York City hospital with debilitating pain from uterine fibroids. During that time, she met with four different providers (all White men), whose recommendations were either taking Advil or having a hysterectomy. As her frustration, and pain, increased, she became adamant about finding a doctor who understood what she was experiencing.
“Once I found a Black woman provider, the experience was a complete 180,” said Wilson.
Studies suggest that when patients and doctors are the same ethnicity, it improves treatment, adherence to protocols, and decreases implicit bias. But making that in-person connection was a challenge. After perusing Zocdoc and other digital-doctor platforms with no success, Wilson relied on her local network in New York to find the closest Black ob-gyn — 200 miles away in Baltimore. From her, Wilson learned that 90% of Black women develop uterine fibroids by age 50, and she was offered treatment options beyond pain medication or surgery.