New Release

Combating Institutional Racism Through Mentoring: A Public Health Approach

Foreword by Dr. Crystal J. Lucky, Associate Dean, Villanova University  | Preface by Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE BLACK RESERVE BOOKSTORE

319 W. Main Street #8 Lansdale, PA 19446

About the book

Effective mentorship has had a significant impact on the success of these students and their ability to overcome the roadblocks created by systemic racism as they attempt to move through the pipeline to public health leaders and decision makers. The book is loosely based on my dissertation published in 2020, entitled: The Faculty Mentoring Experiences of Black Doctoral Public Health Students: A Qualitative Study. The purpose of this book is to outline the historical and current practices in public health and how it has been impacted by the training and education of public health professionals. There is a pipeline problem due to systemic racism and continued marginalization of a population of students who seek to be trained in helping their community. By taking the public health approach we have identified the root cause of the problem, and determined how to prevent it and will make recommendations on how to implement strategies on a larger scale. This book serves to be a resource for higher education institutions, schools and programs of public health, and any entity charged with providing opportunities for students to succeed in the public health field.

Copyright (c) 2023

Published by Sims Publishing Group, LLC, Washington, DC 20003 www.simspublishinggroup.com 

NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK OR E-BOOK

AUDIOBOOK COMING SOON!

A Note from the Author

While this book is an expansion of my dissertation, it was born out of personal experience. Navigating the education systems- first the k-12 system and then the higher education system is filled with successes and challenges. The case studies in this book are my story, my experiences at different times in my life. This is to be expected, but the historical foundation with racism and exclusion at its core is one we cannot escape, nor can we ignore it. I have been shaped by it and I have been harmed by it. My hope is that those who read this book will see the system for what it is, with all of its history, and reflect on the role that they play in it. We are long past being able to deny and ignore the systems that create barriers for Black students. Many believe that it’s impossible to change the system from the inside and that may be true, which is why I feel that focusing on mentoring as a tool to chip away at it and reduce harms done to students can make a difference. Systemic racism is a public health problem that permeates our education and healthcare system. Taking a public health approach, defining and measuring the problem, determining the cause or risk factors for the problem, allows for more opportunities to study this problem, develop interventions and evaluate our efforts. This book offers guidance in where to begin: reflecting on our experiences, behaviors, practices and policies. Hope you’re ready to do the work. 


Testimonial

“I felt and heard Dr. Patterson’s voice throughout this manuscript, while also seeing, hearing, and feeling my own journey. I appreciate the intentionality and the purpose that this work strives to achieve, not just for African American higher education professionals, but for the field of higher education, with a call for the connection to the K-12 pipeline. Accountability is communal. Equitable views and intentional efforts should, and must be made, to achieve total health for all.” Dr. Angela Beale-Tawfeeq


About the Author

Dr. Natasha A. Patterson, MPH (she/her) is currently a tenured professor of Public Health at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ, teaching leadership, health education, and health policy courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Patterson has been teaching in higher education for over 17 years. Prior to teaching she worked in the field as a Health Educator, Program Coordinator for a community based organization and a Research Program Manager for a world renowned cancer research center. Dr. Patterson is able to use her early public health experiences and network to support students in the classroom, in research and in connecting students to internships and careers. Dr. Patterson has served as a mentor for both undergraduate and graduate students to ensure that they are prepared for their future career and academic endeavors. She has been able to build long lasting relationships with students as she views them as her future colleagues. 


Dr. Patterson presents at international, national and local conferences and sits on expert panels, most recently she was a panelist for the Prevention Is Key (PIK) Harm Reduction Legislative Breakfast with New Jersey Senator Joseph Vitale. Dr. Patterson mentors high school and college students as well as professionals in or transitional to public health and higher education positions. She provides the information and support they need to reach their academic and career goals. Dr. Patterson is a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the New Jersey Public Health Association (NJPHA). She extends this work into her civic and community engagement as a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. PA Chapter, the National Association of University Women Suburban Philadelphia Branch, and serving on the boards of Temple University Black Alumni Alliance and HealthSpark Foundation where she serves as the Vice Chair of the Board.  

 

Dr. Patterson is the Founder and CEO of On the Journey to Better, LLC, www.onthejourneytobetter.com a specialized consulting firm created to provide services and solutions that will enable individuals and organizations in the higher education space to improve in various ways. Services include:  preparing individuals for careers in higher education and public health; educating and empowering individuals and institutions to improve in their diversity, equity and inclusive; and assisting higher education institutions who are serious about reducing and repairing the harms inflicted on minoritized faculty, staff, and students from traditionally excluded populations: This can only be done through systems change: changes to the polices, practices, and culture of the institution.


Research Focus: health disparities, social justice, racial justice, maternal and child health, substance use disorder and recovery

 

Recent Projects:



Media

Episode #282 On The Journey To Better, With Natasha Patterson, PhD, MPH

I invite you to listen to an interview I did with Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley on the Public Health Epidemiology Conversations Podcast. Our conversation flows through all different aspects of the realm of public health including when I first felt drawn to the field, where my current passion [in public health] lies, and tell listeners about my consulting business and my new book!

Hit the link to listen https://www.drchhuntley.com/post/episode-282 


"The Method for Mentoring from a Cultural Lens" A Conversation with Dr. Natasha Patterson

Community Voice PHL Talk Show: On this episode of Community Voice PHL we talk with Dr. Patterson who will share her tips on how you get get your New Year off to a SmartStart through mentoring! #communityvoicephl #inform #engage #inspire #mentoring #drnatashapatterson Get the book "Combating Institutional Racism Through Mentoring": https://tinyurl.com/MentoringPBH 

BOOK LAUNCH EVENT HELD ON JANUARY 27, 2023

A Conversation with Hakeem Abdul-Aziz, Producer and Host of the Award-winning Community Voice PHL Talk Show

Additional Events

Black Women's Education Alliance (BWEA) Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10:30 am-1:00 pm at Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School 7101 Paschall Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19142 

BWEA Philadelphia Chapter's Political Awareness Committee is hosted a Breakfast Bingo event which included speakers, games. prizes, and a lot of FUN and information. Their speakers included several candidates for Office of Mayor in Philadelphia! Each game included powerful information on relevant issues, an opportunity to support High School Scholarships, and engaging fun with gifts and prizes.