Doctor uses social media to educate community

Dr. Erica Taylor is the host of Dr. Taylor’s Table, a show from the Chicago Department of Public Health that focuses on health, wellness, financial literacy and education. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLOWERS COMMUNICATION GROUP.
Dr. Erica Taylor is the host of Dr. Taylor’s Table, a show from the Chicago Department of Public Health that focuses on health, wellness, financial literacy and education. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLOWERS COMMUNICATION GROUP.

 Doctor uses social media to educate community

By Tia Carol Jones
Dr. Erica E. Taylor, along with the Chicago Department of Public Health, have launched a bi-weekly Instagram Live show called Dr. Taylor’s Table. The show will focus on health disparities, health and racial equity, wellness as well as the social determinants of health.

Taylor is the medical director for congregate settings at the Chicago Department of Public Health. The goal of the show is to educate community members on the comorbid conditions that exist, something that was revealed during the pandemic as the reason why so many were susceptible to COVID-19. “I felt that it was really important that we start to have some conversations, in regards to how we can all achieve optimal health in the Black community,” she said.

The show launched on the CDPH’s Instagram on Thursday, April 21st. The first guest was Dana Divine, who talked about her breast cancer journey and the importance of early detection. Divine is a community engagement manager with Equal Hope and hosts a show called Equal Health Equal Hope on WVON.  The discussion was about mental health, nutrition, and resources CDPH offers. During the discussion, the audience had the opportunity able to ask questions and have some of those questions answered live.

Research showed that the CDPH had a good following on Instagram and utilizing Instagram Live as a means to reach people. Taylor would love to reach more people by possibly utilizing Facebook Live in the future. She also is open to doing Tik Tok. Taylor also wants to take the show to other locations as a way to highlight Black-owned businesses.

“My goal is to inspire, empower and to educate, then to mobilize. I think it is so important. I think we can have these talks, but then, we also have to think about what are the next steps. How do we get people to mobilize and really take power over their health,” she said.

Another goal of the show is to provide the audience with tools so they can advocate for themselves when it comes to their health – enabling them to be the best stewards of their health.

Taylor believes that addressing health disparities begins with education, encouraging people to be informed about the importance of routine tests. Taylor pointed out that while Black people might not be diagnosed more often with certain health issues, they are the ones dying of those issues more often. She wants individuals who are uninsured or underinsured to have access to resources within the community. She would like to see more equitable healthcare for everyone.

“As a physician, as a Black woman from the South Side of Chicago, having a history of working in marginalized communities, I feel like it’s really important that we bring these issues to the forefront,” she said. “I think it’s really important for individuals to see trusted messengers that look like them, that resemble them, that they can relate to. I really think we need to continue to have these ongoing conversations. These conversations should be ongoing, it should not be a one and done.”

The show will air on Instagram Live at 6 p.m. every other Thursday on @ChiPublicHealth. During the next weeks the show will feature a discussion on Maternal Health, MICAH Baby Book, Doula, Postpartum Depression with guest Dr. Candice Robinson on May 5th; How Men Cry: Mental Health, Black Men’s Mental Health, Women’s Mental Health, Trauma with guests Jordan Spits and Dr. Wilnise Jasmin on May 19th; and Coffee Hip Hop & Mental Health with guest Chris LeMark on June 2nd.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee