As California clinicians discuss ways to achieve racial equity for their patients, many uncover
difficult truths about the adverse impact of racism in their own lives. Some providers say that
they cannot fully advocate for patients until they can champion themselves.
Vong Chang, is a licensed clinical social worker and deputy director of Turning Point Community
Programs in Merced, California. “A lot of our patients and their family members may be subject
to racism,” he said. “Not only do our patients and their families experience this, we also
experience this ourselves.”
“Oftentimes, I would have families of my patients question my abilities and my skillsets. At one
point, I had a family member even questioned if my abilities and me being who I am, Asian
American, would be a good fit for her son’s care. It could be very painful and agonizing to know
that you are treated differently because of your race or, or your ethnicity.”
Vong was a participant in a special learning collaborative operated by the California Institute for
Behavioral Health Solutions with CHCF support. “Being in the learning collaborative was a very
comforting experience to understand that I wasn’t alone in this process,” Chang said. “Although
each of us had our own lived experience as a minority, there were a lot of commonalities.
Hearing others talk about their own journey prompted me to feel safe in discussing my own
personal experience, as well. I feel like now I’m able to see things differently, and understand the
benefits to talk openly about racism.”