By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Tanya Myers and Ashley Price are on a mission to tackle divides in health care service delivery and access for Black women and girls. The duo founded Baltimore-based Shaping Health Equity (SHE) in 2020 after encountering firsthand the lack of culturally-responsive care and representation among health care providers.
“We knew about going to doctors and feeling like you’re not being heard, like expressing the things that you’re experiencing and trying to relay them to the provider just to be brushed off or told you’re fine,” said Myers, co-founder and director of SHE. “We had our own experiences with the health care system and that drew us to this path.”
According to the Pew Research Center, 71 percent of Black women ages 18 to 49 and 54 percent of those 50 and older report having at least one negative interaction with a health care provider.
Myers, herself, has worked in public health for nearly two decades, focusing on community outreach and health education. Over her career, she’s heard similar stories from the Black women and girls she’s served.
“Working in community outreach, I’ve heard from patients saying, ‘When I go to the doctors, I feel less than, I feel like people are looking down on me,’” said Myers. “We heard all sorts of things from patients, and we knew that there was definitely a need.”
Through SHE, Myers and Price are empowering Black women and girls to be advocates for themselves and their loved ones. The organization leads educational workshops covering topics, like sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, chronic disease prevention and mental wellness. It also refers Black women and girls to vetted health care providers and amplifies their experiences through storytelling events and the SHE Conversations podcast.
One of the major health care gaps that Black women encounter is a dearth of interventions and services specifically tailored to address their unique needs. Price, co-founder and co-director of SHE, said though Black women are disproportionately affected by a number of health conditions — like heart disease, diabetes and cervical cancer — they are often overlooked in the development of programs, research and policy responses for these conditions.
“This results in care that is not only insufficient but frequently fails to acknowledge the realities of our experiences. Further adding to this problem is the shortage of culturally competent providers, limited access to preventive and care services, underrepresentation in clinical studies and longstanding medical mistrust rooted in both historical and ongoing discrimination,” said Price. “To close these gaps, we need intentional investment in community-led solutions, a more diverse and representative healthcare workforce and care models that are both culturally responsive and grounded in equity.”
Price emphasized that Black women and girls must be at the center of efforts to advance health equity rather than treated as an afterthought. For her, SHE has the power to contribute to a future where Black women and girls can thrive without being burdened by systemic barriers to health and wellness.
“In the long term, success means real and measurable change: improved health outcomes, expanded access to culturally competent care and greater economic stability for Black women and girls,” said Price. “It also means building a strong, collaborative network of leaders and organizations with Black women and girls not just included, but leading at every level of decision-making and systemic transformation.”
