Malik Brock – Urban Health Fellow

Student Reflection, 7/30/14

“Today I learned that our community suffers from chronic diseases. Heart disease is the most common. There are plenty of ways we can solve these issues. One thing I remember as we worked with Dr. Vargas is him asking us to raise our hand if someone in our family suffers from a chronic disease. All of us raised our hands; that was eye opening. Now that we know this, it’s our job to be advocates for our families, peers, and communities to make a difference.”

– Malik Brock

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The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, in a 2009 report stated, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.

In response to the health crises impacting communities of color, SJLI with funding from The California Wellness Foundation has developed a five-week, hands-on internship and training fellowship. A Fellow wrote the preceding journal entry during his Urban Health Fellowship training.