Healthcare Action Team Interview

Perhaps we once took for granted that it was a simple concept on the surface: “health.” But far more than seeing a doctor to treat an illness, the relevance of health’s deep roots in social disparities has come crashing to the forefront of minds and conversations over the past year, if not earlier. Dr. Ilene Robeck, whose professional background includes addiction management and serving as an opioid safety subject matter expert for the Department of Veterans Affairs, knows that our health is not just dictated by access to healthcare, but stems from the social determinants of health and equity of access to the things that promote good health. For example, a person’s health is influenced by whether they live in a community where they feel safe, are exposed to minimal violence, can obtain affordable and healthy food, have mental health support, and, when they do need healthcare, are able to access the full array of appropriate options. But as we saw with COVID-19, social determinants of health and health risk are not distributed equitably, nor is access to care.

Passion for addressing the social determinants of health, and the vast inequalities in our country related to those determinants, motivated Ilene to launch the new Healthcare Action Team with the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area. As Ilene points out, the list of issues that fall within the social determinants of health is so broad it can be overwhelming. Her goal for the group is to focus on educating themselves and deciding their first priorities based on attainable goals they can achieve locally, especially those that will allow them to partner with the work of other initiatives in the area. Ilene wants the group to make a difference and invites anyone interested to join in at the ground level, where input is welcome and new members can guide the group’s direction. Many people have joined the group because of their professional backgrounds related to healthcare or public health. But others have joined because of personal experiences and the awareness that these issues affect everyone. The social determinants of health are what we all live and breathe everyday. Whether you’re thinking more about these issues lately thanks to COVID-19, you’d like to learn more, or you’re already passionate about a specific topic, consider getting connected with the Healthcare Action Team.