Despite strides toward closing the racial life expectancy gap in Boston¹, racism and racial inequality continue to impact health outcomes, access to services, and treatment quality for communities of color. The 2024 Health of Boston Access to Care Report shows that Black, Latinx, and migrant residents face significant barriers to health insurance coverage and affordability, and report lower indicators of health care quality than most white residents². These disparities are most pronounced in the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, and East Boston (areas that constitute the majority of Whittier patients) and where residents face higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, along with limited access to food, transportation, and economic security, compared with the neighborhoods of Back Bay, Fenway, and Jamaica Plain.

These findings not only underscore how social determinants of health influence who gets sick and who can access timely, affordable care, but also reveal persistent gaps in the quality of care patients receive once they enter the health care system. Research shows that patients of color are less likely to be believed by medical providers and less likely to receive appropriate pain assessment and treatment, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the “racial pain gap”³. Bias in clinical decision-making undermines patient-provider communication, diagnostic accuracy, and overall trust in medical institutions for historically marginalized communities.

Racial discrimination within health care settings is unfortunately far too common. A national survey of more than 3,000 health care workers conducted by The Commonwealth Fund found that 47 percent reported witnessing racial discrimination against patients in their facilities⁴. These experiences can delay continuity of care or discourage patients from seeking care altogether, contributing to poorer health outcomes over time. These dynamics are further compounded by the lack of racial and ethnic diversity across the health care workforce, particularly in clinical leadership roles, limiting opportunities for culturally competent care⁵.

As a community health center rooted in and accountable to the communities we serve, Whittier Street Health Center places racial equity at the forefront of our fight for health equity and social justice. Recognizing that many of our patients have been underserved and mistreated by medical institutions, we strive to re-build community trust in the health care system by holding ourselves to the highest standards of clinical excellence and cultural competence. This commitment guides our efforts to recruit a multi-lingual and multi-cultural workforce that reflects and connects to our patients’ lived experiences, and our work to address the social determinants of health and lower barriers to care through integrated medical, behavioral health, and social support services. Advancing racial justice in health care is not a peripheral goal—it is essential to building trust, improving health outcomes, and ensuring that every patient receives the dignity, respect, and quality care they deserve.

Graphic Design by @Devin Williams

References

1. Lannan, K. (2025, July 15). Lawmakers looking for tools to close gaps in life expectancy, disease rates. Retrieved from https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2025-07-15/lawmakers-looking-for-tools-to-close-gaps-in-life-expectancy-disease-rates.
2. Boston Public Health Commission. (2024). Health of Boston 2024: The Access to Care Report. Retrieved from https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2024/06/HOB_Access%20to%20Care_2024_Final.pdf.
3. Schoenthaler, A., & Williams, N. J. (2022). Looking beneath the surface: Racial bias in the treatment and management of pain. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), e2216281. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.16281
4. The Commonwealth Fund. (2024, February 15). New Report: Nearly Half of Health Care Workers Witness Racial Discrimination Against Patients; Inequality in Treatment for Patients of Color and Non-English Speakers. Retrieved from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/press-release/2024/new-report-nearly-half-health-care-workers-witness-racial-discrimination-against
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. (2024). The State of Health Care Workforce Equity. Retrieved from https://www.bcbs.com/dA/fca46fdb1c/fileAsset/Healthcare_Workforce_Equity_Educational_Brief.pdf.