On July 25th, 2024, Director of the Health Disparities Institute, Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez along with Chimére Sweeney, founder and director of The Black Long Covid Experience were interviewed by The Washington Post Live to discuss the looming effects of Long Covid and the challenges people of color and marginalized communities face in the health care system.

Dr. Sprague Martinez shares her research on long covid and the impacts on communities of color. Dr. Sprague Martinez shares in nine of the 11 focus groups conducted not in the English language, folks hadn't heard of the term "long covid." Meanwhile, those in the English language focus groups had heard of "long covid," despite not being a part of their everyday language.

Our HDI Director also shared the hardship patients of colors face to get a proper diagnosis or be seen by a provider. Dr. Sprague Martinez shares "It's hard, because you have to continue to educate yourself. And in some ways, you know, it's a burden, because you're doing the job of the medical community." 

Check out clips of the interview or listen to the podcast now from The Washington Post Live!

Clips: https://x.com/PostLive/status/1816470453998719352
Video: https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2024/07/25/looming-public-health-challenge-long-covid/
Podcast Episode: https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-live/the-looming-public-health-challenge-of-long-covid/
Transcript of Episode: https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2024/07/25/transcript-long-covid-where-things-stand/