Roslyn Young Daniels with Black Health Matters

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for High Velocity Radio.

Stone Payton: Welcome to the High Velocity Radio show, where we celebrate top performers producing better results in less time. Stone Payton here with you this morning. You guys are in for a real treat. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast founder and CEO for Black Health Matters, Roslyn Young Daniels. How are you?

Roslyn Young Daniels : I am great, Stone. Thank you.

Stone Payton: Well, I have really been looking forward to this conversation. I have a ton of questions, Roslyn. I’m sure we won’t get to them all, but maybe a great place to start would be if you could share with me and our listeners mission. Purpose. What are you and your team really out there trying to do for folks?

Roslyn Young Daniels : We are trying to help people find that roadmap to better health. You know, Stone, I have a story that is very much like many people’s story. I lost my beloved grandparents too soon. And what is the saying is that grandchildren and grandparents have a common enemy and that’s the parent. So my grandparents spoiled me. They doted on me, but unfortunately I lost them too soon. And so many Americans can say the same thing. The cause of their demise was something that was probably, um, if they had had regular care, I would have had them around. And neither of them lived to be past 65 years old. But I have these cherished memories, and that just stuck with me. So I wanted to do something, and that at some point in my life where people that I loved, I wouldn’t have to worry about losing them sooner because they would be around, and that future generations would all be able to celebrate and cherish them.

Stone Payton: And you chose a career path that would eventually definitely facilitate that. But tell us a little bit about about that journey, if you would.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Yeah. So understanding you know, I again, I was just so upset and that happened. The loss of my grandparents happened when I was 17. So then fast forward when I, I guess I was in my early 40s when it was decided that pharma could advertise to consumers. And I got really excited about it because I understood that for many who never had a conversation or thought about health outside of a waiting room, they would now see it on the television. So then I said, you know what? Understanding that certain segments of the population bear the burden of disease, most who might be able to make my this my life’s work. And so my goal was to address the medically underserved and provide them tools and information that can help them guide and navigate towards a healthier life.

Stone Payton: So. So why do we have that that gap? And I don’t know if this is the right term or not. Like like health literacy or health knowledge. Why do we have that gap in the first place? You think.

Roslyn Young Daniels : You know, unfortunately, people of color in this country just don’t do as well in the medical system. Um, when we look at the mortality rates, what we see is that women who live in a certain zip code or families that live in a specific zip code do better than others that live in a poorer zip code, or a black zip code, or an Hispanic zip code or, you know, in a community that has Indian residents. So or I should say Native Americans. So that really is a factor in how people live or how long they live. For me, when the Affordable Care Act was passed, I was really enthusiastic because access is everything. And so through that, I launched Black Health Matters to be the North Star for thousands who wanted to be healthy, but really just didn’t know how or where or what to do.

Stone Payton: Well, I’m getting the distinct impression that that that the, the, the the deck is stacked against some of these, uh, underserved constituencies for sure. But I wonder, does that also reinforce or help create and then Reinforce like also these these cultural challenges like you come to mistrust the whole system. So that just feeds on itself as well. Is that an element?

Roslyn Young Daniels : Definitely an element. But at the end of the day, 80% of what you do is going to really make the difference in how long you live and the quality of your life. Your medical intervention is really 20%. It’s what you do every day. Mhm. And again, that’s 80% of the wellbeing practices that you adopt are really important because that’s what’s really going to carry you over. So if you understand that you need to exercise, that you need to eat nutritious food, that you need some level of mental rest, mental health, all of these things that you need to hydrate, you need to sleep 7 to 8 hours a night. So if you’re putting those things into practice on a regular basis. You’re going to do so much better than those who don’t do that. So we want to solve for what we can solve for. So again, we want people to understand how to live a healthier life. Put better practices in place so that when they do come into the medical system, they’ve got that fighting chance.

Stone Payton: All right. Let’s dive into the work a little bit. What are what are the mechanisms you use to affect this kind of change? I’m I’m thinking probably a great deal of education, but talk about talk about the work itself.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Yeah. So we launched with Black Health Matters. Com which is a leading health and wellness wellness website um that focuses on self-reflective content. And it features more than 30 channels on all types of chronic disease from cancer, diabetes, heart disease. We have information on relationships, nutrition, cooking. So I think in total, we probably have 5000 plus pages of health related content on the website. And that’s where we base the majority of our work because knowledge is our. And it’s so often, you know, you want something that you know, is going to speak to you and connect with you based on your cultural experience. And that’s what’s really going to help make this and make that information authentic. And that’s what the Black Health Matters website does. So then from the Black Health Matters website, we then went into creating newsletters. And so we for and I encourage everyone on the broadcast to register for a Black Health Matters newsletter by going to W-w-w health Matters.com. And that’s where we publish the health news of the of the day. We also follow national health observances. And so that February is heart Month. So we’re going to give you all kinds of tips on heart disease, fitness, nutrition, you name it. So we follow the services. And we also have a laser focus on chronic diseases that impact Black Americans. Most often certain kinds of diseases just don’t get the same level of oxygen. So we’re going to take that deep dive on lupus, a multiple sclerosis, on heart disease, endometrial cancer. And so while these may seem, you know, fairly clinical and pretty severe, there’s always hope as long as you stay open to what science has to offer. And that’s what we package in the Black Health Matters newsletter.

Stone Payton: Well, I’ll tell you what I find attractive about that is it sounds like you have and continue to aggregate the information, provide one portal that that I can go to, to, to get this information as opposed to you’ve done the hard work, right. You’ve done the and and you’re on top of it and continue to assemble that information and and disseminate that information. I, I find that very, very attractive. Are you getting some help or. Well, are like the major health organizations and people in the health care community, are they embracing this or are they bristling with this? What what are those relationships like?

Roslyn Young Daniels : Yeah, we do have an editorial team. And so we have contacts that all the advocacy organizations. So whether it be the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Association, American Diabetes Association, um, some of the smaller advocacy groups. Um, they, we all we we look to elevate what they’re doing, and they have experts that they share with us for the content that we’re writing. Our website is really focused on evidence based content through that is and coming through, um, information based on scientific rigor. So we’re not going to cover crystals, for example, or we’re not really going to cover, um, things that are slightly out of the range of an evidence based report on how to manage a chronic condition so people can feel that this is the information that’s important, that will stand the test of scientific scrutiny. And this again gives some gives our patients, our audience, our caregivers a leg up on managing chronic disease and implementing preventative strategies.

Stone Payton: So at this point in the evolution of your work, what are you finding the most rewarding? What’s the most fun about it for you these days? Rosalind.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Oh my goodness, I think I have fun every day. Um, I could be on the. I could talk with you forever soon about that. I, I what is the what’s exciting for me right now? Um, and then I know we’re going to talk a little bit about the Black Health Matter Summit is that we feel like we’re turning a corner. Um, people are very responsive. You have to understand. Can you imagine, Stone, that? You know, social media is so incredibly important, especially if you’re a website publisher. And so when we launched, the best way to get your content shown to a wider audience is to place it in a chat group and stay on Facebook. Um, and what we would find is that when we would do that, groups would report us to the Facebook gods and we would lose our ability to share that content. So we were inserting ourselves into women’s chat about hair, lifestyle and beauty, but we had health related content for that. Um, and they would be. Oh. Black health matters. Who are they? And we would suffer the ramifications of that. But now we are highly engaged in social media. We’re able to insert information in a variety of different ways with a variety of different communities, and that really is very rewarding. So again, if it’s a chat group on Facebook and they’re talking about hair and beauty, well, we’ll talk about the science of hair or the how nutrition can help make you more beautiful. So or how your attitude, your mental health can make you more beautiful. So that’s incredibly rewarding to us. Um, and so we’re also having my team is also just amazing. Um, and that they too have this vision to help combat the social determinants of health so that folks can, you know, live a healthier life. So being able to able to work with like minded people every day is just the gas, so I enjoy that.

Stone Payton: Well, I can tell, like I could definitely hear it in your voice and I know our listeners can as well. But yeah, say more about these summits and expos, because I feel like that’s maybe a key cornerstone for your work. Yeah.

Roslyn Young Daniels : It is. And that’s another thing that just I can well up, um, in terms of talking about the summit, but through my journey in working, um, kind of like an outside of the healthcare system because I was originally a marketing person, a sales person, and I supported organizations that like the, um, Association of Black Cardiac or Cardiac Cardiologist or the National Medical Association. And so through that, I got a chance to go to scientific meetings. And, uh, that’s where, you know, papers are written, breakthroughs are shared. Um, and while I don’t have a scientific background, probably failed all my scientific classes.

Roslyn Young Daniels : When I would attend those meetings, I could tell when a physician or scientist was stoked about a new breakthrough that was going to help a patient live five years longer, or there would be less of side effects on specific therapies. Um, and so the way that they presented the passion around which they presented connected with me as a layperson who knew nothing about health. I said to myself, if I could replicate that same level of passion and put these experts in black communities so that they could speak directly to patient populations. And as we know, black Americans have some of the highest, um, health disparities in this country. So the need is great. So if I could just marry the two, I might have something unique. And so, of course, you know, folks are like, well, is your audience really going to sit through six hours of six.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Six hours of, uh, clinical presentation? And I would say, I don’t know, but I have to try. And that’s how the Black Health Matter summits were born. We replicate what you would find at any important scientific gathering. And we but we give it a cultural flair so that it feels like you’re at the Bet Awards. Um, our events are free. They’re open to the public. And we’re fortunate and that we’re able to, um, curate a world class faculty that’s committed to health equity when they speak to the to the attendees there. They’re just the level of attention on that stage is. You could hear a pin drop. They are so excited that they understand everything that that scientist has to say. Um, and that is some for many, a breakthrough that if they can get it in this environment, they most certainly can get it when they go into a medical office. And that doctor may not be as warm or forthcoming, but because they’ve gotten confidence from coming to a BHM summit, they feel that they can address the physician and get what they need.

Stone Payton: I’m going to put my business hat on here for a moment, because I’m beginning to to believe maybe you can validate this, um, that health disparities like this can have a real impact on on businesses. The bottom line, if my people are experiencing this, or a subset of my people are experiencing this, this could really have a negative or conversely, a very positive impact on the business if addressed properly. Is that accurate?

Roslyn Young Daniels : Yes. The business and the country. If people are having strokes at 40 and they’re unable to work great or have a livelihood, then they may have to then go on public assistance and the state or the country or the nation would have to start to provide for them. So yes, there are policy issues all around helping people live healthier. Um, so yes, there is definitely a relationship between keeping people healthier longer so that they can provide for themselves, um, so that they are not or have don’t have to, um, rely on state subsidies and those types of things in order to live.

Stone Payton: You are clearly so creative, so energetic. You have a you have a lot of irons in the fire, as my dad would say. But, uh, one of them that that I came across in my notes is this clinical trials center. Can you speak to that a little bit?

Roslyn Young Daniels : Yes, yes. So, you know, it’s so important that people of color participate in clinical trials. And I know they get a bad name. And and a lot of folks will say, oh, I don’t want to be tested on, but, you know, everything that we eat, everything that we currently take has been through a clinical trial that includes your aspirin, your Tylenol, your Robitussin. So there are certain diseases, right, that impact certain groups. More men have higher rates of prostate cancer. So in order to solve and come up with therapies that work, you’ve got to work on all different types of of ethnicities because the DNA, all of that is, is slightly different. And so you want therapies that can work on and be effective for the broadest possible population. And so for so long their drugs were only, you know, tested on men. So now over time it’s evolved. And women are now participating in clinical trials. And now we have to get people of color. Black folks represent, uh, what is it, about 13% of the population, but are only 5% of them are participating in clinical trials. So those numbers do not make sense. Um, it also limits the number of therapies out there. Women who have or men, women and men who have lupus for years. Uh, there were only like 1 or 2 therapies out there when the predominant audience for lupus is African American. So we have to want to push science to create therapies to help us, but we also have to be a part of the solution by participating. But Clinical Trials Korner will serve to expose our attendees at our Black Health Matters Summit to what is available to them in terms of, um, new health advances.

Roslyn Young Daniels : You know, the best thing about it. And, you know, I don’t want to take it to the extreme, but if you’re in that Hail Mary situation, that breakthrough on that clinical trial could really make the difference in keeping you here longer. Um, also, you know, clinical trials help you in terms of the care you receive. So often, people of color are suspicious about their doctor that their doctor really care. Are we you know, patients will say, well, am I getting the same level of care as if I lived in a, you know, very expensive or affluent community. And my hospital is is urban. Am I going to get the same level of care with a clinical trial? You’re going to get a that and above the standard of care. There is so much regulation around a clinical trial. The government has standards. The state, FDA, everyone. You’ll have more eyes, more services, more information. Plus then you may get paid. They may transport you to and from. They will work at your convenience so you may have more television telemed visits. A nurse may come to see you there. There are more services provided to support people who participate in a clinical trial than not. So it’s a great opportunity to get better care to be seen by, I would say, some outstanding physicians and scientists, so it’s a good deal. So we encourage people and our audience to be informed, just don’t make a rash decision and say, oh, I’m not participating. You are missing out. And you want to make a statement of participating so that future generations can benefit from what you’ve done. So we we are pro clinical trial participation.

Stone Payton: And you’re giving people you’re educating people about those opportunities. I think it’s marvelous how you’re leveraging these summits, the expose the the website. And you’re just you’re your advocacy for, uh, this group of, of clearly underserved people. I, I’m going to switch gears on you a minute, Rosalind, and ask you a little bit about passions, interests, pursuits outside the scope of the the work that we’re talking about. My listeners know that I like to hunt, fish and travel. I like introducing people. You know, all my courses are around introducing other people to the joys of the of the outdoors. Anything outside the scope of this work that you have a tendency to, to nerd out about and maybe get away from it now and again.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Oh, I make my husband crazy because I am a smooth jazz aficionado.

Stone Payton: Oh, I love it.

Roslyn Young Daniels : We’ll travel for smooth jazz concert. So I love getting on the road. Um, and traveling to hear some of my favorites. Um, being there for the weekend. It’s just so energizing. So, um, that’s that’s definitely one of my passions when I’m not working.

Stone Payton: Fantastic. I’m so glad that I asked.

Stone Payton: So I believe that that that February and and we are having this conversation in February is both Black History Month and American Heart Month. And it does help create some awareness for prioritizing health. I wonder if we could leave our listeners before we wrap with a couple pro tips, maybe around how to best leverage all the resources that you and your organization are providing, or some just some things going back to early in the conversation, just day to day things to keep in mind and to do or not do but and look gang. The number one pro tip is tap into to Roslyn and her team’s work. Get on this website. Take advantage of these resources. Reach out and have a conversation with Roslyn or someone on her team. But to to keep them sated between now and then. Roslyn, let’s leave them with a little something to chew on.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Well, you know what, Stone, I have to say just one more thing about the Black Health Matters Summit, which will happen on February the 22nd at the Loudermilk Conference Center from 8 to 3. And the address is 40 Courtland Street Northeast in Atlanta. First of all, that summit is virtual. So wherever you are in the country, you can tune in. Registration is free. Once you come to our summits, you’ll eat breakfast. You’ll have lunch courtesy of Black Health Matters. And we’re excited. Most importantly, on site, we offer a blueprint for wellness screening. We will screen you through Quest Diagnostics and an organization called Choose Healthy Life. We will screen you for 28 conditions. That includes, you know, your thyroid, your cholesterol, um, screening you for diabetes, you name it, vitamin C, vitamin D deficiency, all of that for free. Um, and so that as an attendee, you will have a booklet, a guide to keep with you for perpetuity as you go and see your regular physician. You’ll have a document that you can say, what about this? And what about that? And why can’t we get these scores better? So we’ll have that as a game plan.

Roslyn Young Daniels : We’ll also have mental health screenings. Um, we’ll be administering Covid flu shots. Rsv shots. So all of that is there for everyone who wants to come. And again, it’s free. My last point would be what said care if you’re not feeling well. If you’re a person of a certain age, if you’re not feeling well, go to the doctor. And and we have a program called Speak Up. So often physicians kind of have this God complex, and they’re only going to spend a certain amount of time with you. So make sure you’re prepared for that call. And if you ask them to explain, pause, make them speak and spend more time with you. Um, because that’s really what they are supposed to do. And if you’re not getting that type of care or that type of interest. Then find another doctor. So stick with your gut. You know, it was so funny. My father, when we used to take him for a medical appointment, he would say, don’t tell the doctor anything. That is the worst advice.

Roslyn Young Daniels : That that one can have. Because, again, he just didn’t trust. Doctors were just troublemakers. So let’s be let’s have that growth and that positive mindset and let’s see what, what science and, and healthcare can do for us. Because again, we’ll be armed. And we know that health matters. So be strong and be persistent.

Stone Payton: And speak up I love it. All right. What’s the best way for our listeners to tap into your work, continue to to take full advantage of all of these opportunities and resources. So let’s let’s leave them with some coordinates to do that website, whatever is appropriate.

Roslyn Young Daniels : All right w WW black health matters. Com and my mailbox is Rosaline r o s l y n at Blackheath Matters.com.

Stone Payton: Well, Rosaline, it has been an absolute delight having you on the broadcast. Thank you for your insight, your perspective, your enthusiasm. You are doing such marvelous work. You and your team for so many. You obviously are having a profound impact on some people that could really use the help. And we sure appreciate you.

Roslyn Young Daniels : Thank you.

Stone Payton: So my pleasure. All right. Until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Rosalind Young Daniels with Black Health Matters and everyone here at the Business RadioX family saying, we’ll see you in the fast lane.