Dr. Sandra Scott on her journey as a health professional and breaking barriers
The physician is on a mission to improve the quality of health care for the community that she serves at the Brookdale Hospital Campus of One Brooklyn Health.
Dr. Sandra Scott is a Black woman in the health care industry who is breaking barriers.
She is the executive director of the Brookdale Hospital Campus of One Brooklyn Health in New York City — and the first woman, person of color and physician to have the title.
Dr. Scott’s trailblazing accomplishments are especially noteworthy because women of color account for nearly 20% of entry-level health care jobs in the United States but only 5% of C-suite positions, according to global management firm McKinsey & Company’s 2020 report titled “Women in healthcare: Moving from the front lines to the top rung.”
When Dr. Scott applied for the position, her concern wasn’t to be labeled “the first.” She was focused on improving the quality of health care for the Eastern Brooklyn community that the hospital serves.
“During 2020, I was the chair of emergency medicine for One Brooklyn Health,” Dr. Scott tells theGrio. “This particular area of Brooklyn was very hard hit by COVID[-19]. “It was a struggle both emotionally, professionally, personally, to get through that. And I think what I recognized more than I had ever recognized in my entire career is that policy makes a difference, legislation makes a difference and having diversity at the table when decisions are made…”
Dr. Scott stresses the importance of Black women and women in general being in positions of leadership. “Our diverse opinions and our perspective helps to make, to move the agenda,” she says. “Women have a very unique experience. And so when women are able to sit at the table and help to shape the decisions and the policies, everyone does better.“
Check out the full interview above to learn more about Dr. Scott’s journey and more!
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