Women on the Cutting Edge of Health Care and Research

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EXPERTS agree that the health of the Black community is in serious condition, with a higher incidence than the average population when it comes to certain diseases like heart disease, HIV/AIDS and diabetes. But there also are concerns about disparities in both access to health care and in the quality of health care available. Research shows that Black women--a third of whom lack health insurance--are getting the poorest quality of treatment.

There are some signs of encouragement, though, like the growing number of women who are taking charge. They are medical doctors, researchers, academicians, lobbyists, even a U.S. representative. When it comes to Black health concerns, these Sisters are on the case.

On these pages, we present a representative group of the women who are on the cutting edge of health.

U.S. Del. Donna M. Christensen, M.D.

CURRENTLY serving her fourth term as a member of congress, the Honorable DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN, Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands, is the first female physician-representative in the history of the U.S. Congress, where she chairs the Congressional Black Caucus' Health Braintrust, among other committee and caucus duties. As CBC Health Braintrust chair, the former Virgin Islands Acting Commissioner of Health, who also has worked as a private physician and emergency room …