Disparities in the Midst of COVID-19: Education, Health, and Race-Odaelys Walwyn-Pollard

he COVID-19 Pandemic has undeniably made the year 2020 one for the books. We’ve seen how the pandemic has affected everyone, but it has undeniably been exacerbated for certain groups. We will discuss how COVID-19 shined a light on a broken system, with special emphasis on education in New York City, the largest school district in the United States. We will also highlight how socioeconomic status, a determinant of health, has led to the disparities seen in COVID-19 infection rates and how it ties to certain racial/ethnic groups. Can we fix the system and what will it take to pick up the broken pieces?

Dr. Odaelys Walwyn-Pollard, a native of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, left the tropics and migrated to the Northeast to pursue her PhD research in Microbiology and Immunology at New York Medical College. Odaelys is a self-proclaimed lover of all things science (especially microbes) and an experienced educator. She is particularly passionate about teaching and mentoring students of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the STEM fields, in ways that foster their love for science and research. She is now part of RockEDU Science Outreach at the Rockefeller University and is actively involved in the many programs for high school students, teachers, and scientists.

This talk took place on Thursday, January 7th, and was part of Skeptical Inquirer presents. You can learn more about our series at skepticalinquirer.org/presents/