Ashlee Wisdom (GPH ’18)

The inequity she saw in healthcare inspired Ashlee Wisdom to launch Health in Her HUE to help women of color trust medicine. She holds an MPH from the School of Global Public Health with a concentration in public health policy and management.

What exactly is Health in Her HUE? It’s a technology platform where women of color can find culturally sensitive health information and providers. We have a directory with over 800 Black doctors, nurse practitioners, doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants. What inspired its creation? I worked in a health center serving largely Black and Brown communities. Our patients had higher rates of diabetes and heart disease and didn’t have insurance or proper access to healthcare. It wasn’t equitable and I wanted to find a way to be a part of the solution. Why are Black women the focus? The maternal mortality rate for us is higher. Heart disease is the number one killer of Black women. We’re less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, but we’re more likely to die from it. What’s next? I’d love to host an annual conference on advancements for marginalized women. There aren’t enough Black doctors, so we see an opportunity to leverage telehealth so women can at least have virtual access to providers. I’m trying to build more relationships with medical schools to engage physicians. You’ve said your mom wanted you to be a doctor. At least I went to grad school so I checked that box. This is a scary path to take but I’m grateful to wake up every morning and build something I know will have an impact on women who look like me in my community.

“There aren’t enough Black doctors, so we see an opportunity to leverage telehealth so women can at least have virtual access to providers.”