Women’s Health

In observance of National Minority Health Month this April, Fidelis Care is raising awareness about the health disparities facing minorities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), racial and ethnic minority groups throughout the United States experience higher rates of illness and death across a wide range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease.

As I reflect upon my life’s journey this Women’s History Month, I note several women who have influenced my career path. I am very blessed to have had a supportive mother, two grandmothers, and aunts who all prided themselves in working and caring for their families.

Resiliency defines my life. Throughout the years, I have drawn inspiration from phenomenal women who have modeled this quality for me and countless others.

Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello presented a $20,000 maternal health grant to Life of Hope in Brooklyn. The funding is one of nine grants awarded to community-based not-for-profit organizations that support maternal health and wellness across New York State. The grants, totaling $158,000, will assist these organizations that play a vital role in ensuring safe pregnancies and healthy babies – particularly for underserved, lower-income women and their families.

It’s amazing the influence one generation can have on the next. When I look in the mirror, I see my mother’s eyes. I have my grandmother’s creativity and love for music. Over and over, physical traits are passed from generation to generation, along with interests, talents, personality, and character traits. One thing it shows clearly - we influence others more than we think we do. And this doesn’t just happen in families. Each person has their own sphere of influence regardless of their family ties. As I look at my life, I can clearly see that I have been influenced strongly by the women who have come before me.