CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Dr. Doug Kelling, who is an Atrium Health physician, spoke at a “White Coats for Black Lives” event, and his message was well-received and met with applause from health care workers.
“You don’t need to be a health care professional to recognize that racism is a disease,” Kelling told the group last week outside of Atrium Health Cabarrus. “This is the same as people with congestive heart failure and diabetes who do not live as long as would be expected.”
In a Facebook video, he said research has proven that those exposed to systemic racism live seven years less than people who are otherwise healthy.