Meet The Founder
Teisha LeShea
With several years of experience in Medical Billing, Claims Processing, and patient service, I have developed a strong expertise in streamlining processes and ensuring compliance within the healthcare sector. The obvious is that I'm a black woman who has had several encounters with medical health professionals.
Also, a freelance writer, Teisha LeShea, can create a safe space for women from all walks of life to share their stories and be brave enough to talk about their own stories.
I can't remember the last time I left a medical facility relieved. I would go through more pain, agony, and frustration. Constantly retelling my problems, falling on deaf ears and advocating for myself before an examination begins. Continually being in pain and told to take Tylenol.
The days I would sit around and the women in my family had similar experiences upset me. As someone who respects and loves her family, I don't want to see any of these women endure pain of any kind. I always wanted to do something but didn't know how.
During the first quarter of 2024, looking for employment, I shifted my focus to my passion. With tons of research, I created a Facebook group to build a community around women of color and create a safe space to share their stories. I created the Facebook group, name, and logo in a day. I also made a business plan. I was proud that I took the risk. I used that momentum as the groundwork to expand my message.
General Background:
Can you share your inspiration for creating the SistahCare Alliance and how you envision its role in combating medical racial bias?
My mother, I created this advocacy for women like my mother who have endured unnecessary pain throughout their lives, witnessing constant medical professionals gaslighting my mother for her pain. In tears, asking for any relief, seeing the lack of urgency from medical professionals to provide the proper care.
What challenges did you face when launching a platform like SistahCare Alliance?
Women joining. For some reason, it's been difficult for women to join. I hope that changes with time.
Advocacy and Impact:
What specific types of racial bias in healthcare do you see black women facing most often, and how does the SistahCare Alliance help address them?
One of the many issues I hear a lot of women express is that the medical profession assumes they know more about you than you. After mentioning to a physician that I've tried physical therapy and I would leave feeling more pain, then when I came in, instead of being understanding, the physician suggested that I "push myself" through the pain.
After experiencing terrible back pain, I was meant to have my little sister give me a massage. I had another physician say, "Well, I'm not going to give you pain pills," when I've never mentioned taking any pain pills. The issue they were more concerned with was addiction rather than trying to help.
The first phase of this advocacy group is to create a pure and safe community. We need more women to feel more comfortable sharing their stories, so I made the SistahCare Alliance Facebook Group and this same group on LinkedIn. I recently launched the SistahCare Alliance newsletter.
Note: The Facebook Group and LinkedIn group are both in private mode.
How does connecting Black women with Black medical professionals help improve healthcare outcomes?
Connecting black women with black medical professionals will comfort patients. As patients, we hear certain news that we can't understand. Our minds become blank. When your physician asks if you have any questions and your mind goes blank, your advocate will be there to ask essential questions that the patient will need to know.
Knowing our history when it comes to black bodies, white professionals find us amazing. They want to test, inject, and pluck us apart to find a "solution" to the world's health problems.
Having a black professional with you provides comfort and understanding that sometimes white counterparts can't understand.
Future Vision:
As SistahCare Alliance grows, what are your long-term goals for the group, and what will their impact be on combating medical racial bias?
Although this idea was created in California, I would love to spread this message nationwide.
What are your hopes for SistahCare Alliance regarding collaboration with healthcare institutions or other organizations?
I hope every black woman feels heard, seen, and appreciated.
Personal Advocacy:
What advice would you give Black women hesitant to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings?
Most medical offices and facilities have a patient portal; read your medical history, what you don't know, and research. If there are medical terms you're unfamiliar with, research them.
Using the information you've collected in your chart, bring those questions to your next visit. If you're in agony and pain and your physician asks you to rate your pain 1-10, don't. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The purpose of the pain scale is to provide a standardized means of measuring pain intensity and severity." What it doesn't say is according to who?
Our pain tolerance is different, which shouldn't be the litmus test describing your pain. If your pain feels like one thousand knitting needles piercing your skin, then that's what you need to say. Describing your pain shouldn't be reduced to a number; based on the day, most physicians love to rush.
You have every right to ask as many questions as needed because this is your health, and you shouldn't leave the office confused. When or if your physician says no, ask them to notate it.
If your physician denies you anything, tell them to notate it. Always keep a paper trail. Tell someone you trust. Let someone know you're going to the doctor. It's a plus if they can be with you in the room. It creates an extra layer of protection for you, the patient.
If you've had a terrible experience at a business, your first reaction is to go to Yelp or Google reviews. Physicians and medical professionals should also review those same experiences.
I'm so excited to share my second newsletter. I'm the founder of SistahCare Alliance, which aims to give black women back their power regarding their health, teach them ways to advocate for themselves and connect them with other black medical professionals to obtain that extra love and support.
Teisha LeShea,