(Bless you, Shonda, for your unwavering commitment to diversity.)
Although that may seem like an insignificant detail, representation matters.
Jones occupies that exceptional, shouldnt-be-rare-but-is-nonetheless space black women have carved out for themselves in the medical field.
Courtesy of Brandi Jones
Shes affiliated with Howard University Hospital, where she performs gynecologic surgeries along with labor and delivery.
Unity Health Care is a nonprofit dedicated to helping medically underserved patients.
Many of them also happen to be people of color.
Jones at January’s Women’s March on Washington. Courtesy of the subject
For the most part, our patient population is underinsured, Jones tells SELF.
Serving this population means approaching each day with a base level of flexibility.
I encounter that often, and it can complicate your day, Jones says.
Courtesy of Brandi Jones
This is especially true when it comes to one of Jones’s passions: providing affordablebirth control.
Comprehensive birth control education and access are important for all women.
But theyre distinctly essential for those in low-income situations.
An unintended pregnancy can throw that trajectory off course.
Unity Health Care has a Title X grant, which offers federal funding for family-planning programs.
They just need to know about it, Jones says.
The biggest barriers are education and awareness, Jones says.
One area shes hyper-focused on is cervical cancer screening.
Her efforts also extend to health issues that fall outside the gynecologic scope.
That calls for a lot of counseling abouthealthy eating, exercise, weight issues, bone healththe whole gamut.
Many of Jones patients look like her, and thatreflectioncan help them feel more seen and heard.
I would get that a lot from patients, especially when I started: Oh, youre the doctor!
Theyre happy to see me, and theyre happy to be receiving care from me, Jones says.
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