Treating patients with dignity and with an awareness of the disparities that Black people face in accessing health care were the two main reasons Elaine Gillard decided to become a nurse 14 years ago.

“I felt a deep calling for caring for people. Just seeing all the disparities in health care, particularly in marginalized communities — it kind of fueled my desire to make a difference,” said Gillard, describing the moment she realized that nursing was her life’s calling.

According to a 2024 analysis, Black-American New Yorkers experienced the lowest health system performance in the state compared to white individuals.

For Gillard, a 41-year-old native of Staten Island and a nurse at VNS Health Care, the disparities affecting the Black-American population were what inspired her to focus h

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