Annette Grotheer Named to Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ List for Program Addressing Health Disparities
Forbes magazine named Annette Grotheer, an M.D./M.P.H. candidate at the Miller School of Medicine and Department of Public Health Sciences, to its “30 Under 30” list in the health care category. Forbes recognizes 30 of the most promising game-changers under the age of 30 in 20 different industries from thousands of nominations every year. Grotheer was also the only African American candidate chosen for the category.
Grotheer, who is committed to addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for African American men, founded The Shop Docs in 2016. Minorities, specifically black minorities, suffer from heart disease and high blood pressure more than any other group. To address this, the nonprofit, which began as her M.P.H. capstone project, brings health education and screenings to barbershops in African American neighborhoods. The program is also available in barbershops in Philadelphia and Patterson, New Jersey. Communities in Chicago, Boston, and Texas have reached out to Grotheer as well.
Along with volunteers, Ms. Grotheer also provides information on nutrition and exercise to prevent and control heart disease and high blood pressure. Besides the hypertension screenings, The Shop Docs is also going to provide a screening site for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
In an interview with medical communications at the Miller School of Medicine, Ms. Grotheer said, “While being named to the Forbes list is a personal honor, I hope it brings greater awareness to the issue of health disparities in minority communities. We need to start conversations about the importance of wellness and prevention, so fewer patients will require chronic care for dangerous conditions.”
Read more about The Shop Docs.
