Sheryl Weir Interview; Region V (7/12/16)
1.
Identification:
-What
is your name? Sheryl Weir
-Where
were you born? Detroit, MI
-Where
did you grow up? Detroit, MI
-Profession
currently: MI Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Disparities Reduction/Minority Health Section
-Region
working in right now: Michigan – HHS Region V
-State
living in right now: Michigan
2.
Why
are you interested in public health and how did you get into the field of
public health?
I
was initially interested in social science and education but also had an
interest in health. Discovered the
discipline of public health after I completed my undergraduate education in
social science-pre law. Applied for admittance to U of M School of Public Health-
Health Behavior/Health Education program.
I was accepted and the rest is history!
3.
What
is health equity to you?
‘Fair,
just access to opportunities and social resources needed to achieve wellbeing.’
(Ingham Co Social Justice project)
4.
What
are some challenges (that still persist) within the field of health equity in
public health?
a.
Support/acknowledgment
of its importance at the higher levels of public health administration.
b.
Having
the will to challenge our current structures, policies and practices to see how
they are advantaging some and often disadvantaging others (both internally in
our organizations and among our clients/community).
c.
Understanding
that health equity is not a thing to be added but a lens through which all of
our work must be done.
5.
Why
do you think those challenges still persist?
a.
Racism,
heterosexism, ableism, sexism all contribute to the power imbalances that are
supported in our current structures. These are difficult things to acknowledge, address and change.
6.
What
models within your workforce have worked to encourage health equity?
a.
No
sure what is being asked here.We have
used strategies:
i. Equity/social justice trainings
ii. Conducted learning labs (where staff can
begin to plan//develop their work using an equity lens.
iii. Management/Executive staff training on
health equity.
iv. Mandatory web based equity training for
al staff.
v. Developed materials for use/review:
Health Roadmap document; Health Equity Toolkit and video series; Health Equity
Practice Guide for Public Health Practitioners, etc.
7.
At
the beginning of your career, what were some root causes for health inequities
and health disparities? How has those changed (or not at all) following the end
of your career?
a.
My
response to this question is that there has been little change over the course
of my career. The root causes have
persisted: See #5 above.
