HealthyMD and IMG Health Clinic, have announced a merger aimed at enhancing health equity and providing high-quality sexual healthcare to over 50 million underserved individuals across the United States. HealthyMD and IMG Health Clinic Clifford W. Knights II and Steve Vixamar founded Independent Medical Group (IMG) to provide healthcare services to those in need and to stop the spread of HIV and Hep C in underserved communities. HealthyMD, their telehealth platform, offers comprehensive at-home tests, in-clinic, mobile clinic appointments, improving sexual healthcare access, particularly in Black and LGBTQIA+ communities. This
Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) has achieved remarkable success, earning $1.1 million in just three months on Amazon, according to AfroTech. A Vision Rooted in Necessity In 2016, Shontay Lundy created BGS, a 30 SPF lotion formulated for women of color. Recognizing this gap, she invested $33,000 of her own money to create a product that wouldn’t leave the notorious white residue on darker skin tones. Made with melanated skin in mind, BGS dries completely clear and protects melanin without the white-cast that normal skin care tends to leave, according to
Pfizer has urged a US Court of Appeals to uphold a decision to dismiss a lawsuit from an anti-affirmative action group that challenged its diversity fellowship program. The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed Do No Harm’s lawsuit because the group failed to name at least one individual harmed by Pfizer’s program. The lawsuit against Pfizer The case involves Pfizer’s fellowship program aimed at recruiting and training Black, Latine, and Native American leaders. Do No Harm’s lawsuit claims the program violated federal civil rights laws. In March,
UC Davis Health’s new telehealth program aims to address disparities in postpartum care for Black patients and improve maternal outcomes. Bridging the Gap in Postpartum Care Black patients at UC Davis Health and across the nation face significant disparities in postpartum care. These inequities, particularly during the six-week period after birth, contribute to an increased risk of complications and even death for Black people who give birth. To tackle this issue, UC Davis Health has launched a new telehealth program aimed at reducing these disparities and improving maternal outcomes for
This Juneteenth, we want to celebrate some Black founders who have set out to uplift and support their communities. Commemorating Juneteenth Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that slavery had been abolished – two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first Juneteenth was observed in 1866 and has been celebrated by Black Americans ever since. It is often referred to as the country’s second independence day and became an official federal holiday
Dr. Leeja Carter has developed a smart refrigerator device that provides free healthy food items to schools and hospitals. Dr. Carter is the CEO and founder of Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE), which she launched after the pandemic when she recognized an increase in the number of people without food. Dr. Carter now has several programs, including The Ujamaa Cafe and Ujamaa Well, which offer food and wellness innovation with access programs addressing food and health access. The Ujamaa Cafe Fridge Program The Ujamaa Cafe has now expanded
Dr. Heliana Ramirez, a researcher of racial and LGBTQ related workplace trauma, created the Black Women Toxic Job Survivor Suicide Prevention Resource Guide following the tragic death of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey following workplace bullying. Ramirez spoke with POCIT about Candia-Bailey’s life and legacy, creating the guide, and strategies for Black women experiencing workplace bullying. Remembering Dr. Candia-Bailey Candia-Bailey experienced severe workplace abuse from her supervisor when she worked as Vice President of Student Affairs at Lincoln University Oakland, leading to her suicide in January 2024. Concerned about Candia-Bailey’s anxiety and
Mae Health Inc., a pioneering startup focusing on minority health, has closed an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Jumpstart Nova. This investment will enable Mae to expand its tech-enabled services and tackle the significant disparities in Black maternal health outcomes. The funding round saw contributions from a variety of investors, including the Astia Fund, Impact Engine, Joyance Partners, and Gratitude Railroad, alongside early backers like RH Capital and Bright Ventures. Tech-Enabled Solutions for Maternal Health In response to the maternal mortality rates and the prevalence of maternity care deserts,
Acclinate, a Birmingham, Alabama-based healthcare technology company, has completed a $7 million Series A funding round. The funding round, led by Cencora Ventures and supported by Labcorp and Latimer Ventures, aimed to enhance Acclinate’s efforts to promote health equity and transform the inclusivity of clinical trials. Transforming Clinical Trials through Trust and Technology Acclinate’s strategy aims to build trust and foster long-term relationships with diverse communities. Their digital platform, NOWINCLUDED, is designed to educate and engage underrepresented groups in clinical trials, ensuring their inclusion in medical research. The platform serves as an educational tool while
Ovom Care, a pioneering German startup in the fertility sector, recently closed €4.8 million ($5.1 million) in seed funding to expand its services across Europe, according to Tech Funding News. Led by an all-female founding team, Ovom Care is at the forefront of integrating empathetic reproductive healthcare by using a combination of generative AI and computer vision. This investment round, led by Alpha Intelligence Capital and supported by Ananda Impact Ventures and Merantix, makes the company’s total funding €6.1 million ($6.5 million). The startup is set to open its first clinic in Portugal by late 2024,
