Empower healthcare professionals to become more self-aware

My solution is focused on addressing the embedded bias and discrimination that still prevents people from receiving the best health outcomes.  As you have stated, ethnic and racial minorities can face mistreatment by healthcare providers who do not reflect the communities they serve and do not confront implicit bias.  

All humans have unconscious biases.  No one is free of it. In 2020 According to the American Public Health Association 145 cities and counties across 27 states declared racism a public health crisis.

Racism and implicit biases have been in our culture since the day the nation was founded. We have never dealt with the root of the problem, the mindset - how we view minorities.  The stereotypes, assumptions and biases that continue to be perpetuated impact the healthcare system and how patients are treated.   

There are no laws or policies that can remove implicit and unconscious biases, nor can technology take them out. The individual must do it. 

Dr. King recognized you can pass all the laws you want, you cannot legislate the heart.  And Einstein once said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.  You must stand on a higher ground." 

If we don't recognize the need for all healthcare professionals to become more self-aware of their unconscious biases, racism will continue to be a big challenge for the healthcare system  creating disparities in outcomes and access to healthcare. 

My solution has been out in the public since 1985.  Now it has been presented in a TED Talk offering a solution to overcoming racism and all forms of prejudice and biases.  It was posted in Dec. 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiPvcZC7kkI&t=25s 

Here are comments from a healthcare professionals: 

“Remarkable talk Sara! I loved it. It really touches the heart of a listener. Great organization of your message and a call to action in the end--it was concise and engaging.” Shweta Patakkode, Healthcare professional 

”Very powerful message, you are a talented speaker—articulate, perfect pace and gestures!.”  C. Keith Ozaki, M.D., F.A.C.S, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School

“You’re a great speaker and the stories about the impact of the poem are impressive. ” Margaret Lee, M.D. Boston Medical Center

"Way to go Sara! I love your talk. The sun does not discriminate." Latanya Summers, Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health and Addiction

The Sun poem can engage healthcare professionals to look within and face their unconscious biases without shame, judgment or guilt. It can ignite change, transform the mind and heart. The TED Talk presents the power of the Sun poem. Technology is used to distribute the TED Talk and a 30 second public service announcement: http://worldunityinc.org/assets/video/WorldUnityPSA2021final.mp4

Addressing implicit biases and racism requires a consistent practice to become more self-aware.  You cannot change something about yourself you until you are aware of it. My TED Talk and the PSA are simple powerful tools that can easily be implemented, especially the poem - Are you greater than the sun/ that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate, and be distributed to health care institutions across the globe.

The Sun poem is the heart of the TED Talk and the PSA.  Here are comments from other doctors who read the book.

“I have read your book-several times. It is inspirational and I am sure a great lesson to many.” - Dr. Lynn Webster  

“Small Book with life changing ideas, dynamite.”- Dr. David Philips, retired doctor from UMass Memorial Medical Center

 “I loved your book, it’s a great resource tool to address diversity and inclusion.” Dr. Michael Watkins, retired Associate Professor
Harvard Medical School

“I have read your book-several times. It is inspirational and I am sure a great lesson to many.” - Dr. Lynn Webster

The solution to addressing the embedded unconscious biases in healthcare professionals requires internal work, become more self-aware.  We have the educational tool that can empower and has proven to ignite change teach open mindedness, humility and forgiveness.  These are the qualities that we need to embrace and cultivate to overcome unconscious biases. 

Technology cannot remove the unconscious bias, the individual must do it.  We have the educational message that can empower the individual to confront their unconscious biases without judgment, shame or guilt.  It needs to be presented to healthcare organizations across the globe now more than ever! Technology is a powerful tool that give people access to our solution and help us spread it across the globe.  

We have been targeting healthcare, education, organizations seeking to advance equality, diversity and inclusion and minority groups.   

There is a need for innovative solutions to address racism and all forms of biases in a transformative and enduring way. We are reaching out to our targeted organization to present the TED Talk as an educational resource tool to address racism and all forms of biases. It can empower individuals to become more self-aware of their unconscious biases. It is addressing the root cause of racism which according to the American Public Health association 145 cities and counties across 27 states have declared racism a public health crisis.

This public health crisis along with a recognition that unconscious biases are having a far-reaching impact in classrooms, the killing of George Floyd that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, and increased discrimination towards Asian Americans and the Jewish community in 2020 underscore an urgent need for healthcare professionals and educators to become more self-aware of their unconscious biases. 

The TED Talk offers a solution. It can empower healthcare professionals to become more self-aware of their unconscious biases.  They are having a direct impact on the care of minority patients. The TED Talk invites the individual to reflect on the Sun poem.  As a healthcare professional reflects on it the individual can become more self-aware and get rooted in their common humanity and see patients as people first not a color.

World Unity Inc. has committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion by raising self-awareness through the Sun poem and empowering and inspiring individuals through the arts, education and innovative ideas. The Sun poem begins with a question - Are you greater than the sun/ that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate (c) 1985 Sara Ting

All humans have unconscious biases. It is up to the individuals to become self-aware of their unconscious biases and remove them.  We have the TED Talk offers a solution that has proven to ignite change and has been share first in a public service announcement in 1985 in Boston and in 1986 on CBS and NBC Network TV across the country.  Now it is presented in a TED Talk. We have especially targeted education because they are educating the future workforce and leaders, healthcare because it is vital the well-being of all people and the law enforcement and the legal system because we are all impacted by the law. 

The Sun poem which is the heart of the TED Talk is the inspiration for the founding of our organization. For over a dozen years we have reached out to healthcare organizations to engage them to attend our annual diversity and inclusion leadership gala. We put a spotlight on the Sun poem and all the initiatives it has inspired. Merck, CVS Health, Lifespan, Northeastern University School of Nursing and Simmons University School of Nursing have been sponsors. We continue to cultivate our relationships with them. Dr. Timothy Babineau, CEO of Lifespan has praised us for our work! The Dean of Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School was the keynote speaker at World Unity Inc.'s 19th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Gala.

In order to address racism it has been recognized discussions are needed to help individuals become more self-aware in overcoming unconscious biases.

TED Talks are recognized for presenting ideas worth sharing globally! My TED Talk tells a compelling story of the Sun poem and its transformative powers to help individuals overcome unconscious biases. We know healthcare professionals have limited timed and are in need of simple tools and practices to cultivate a mindset of valuing all people.  We are presenting our TED Talk to the healthcare organizations and educational institutions as an educational resource tool that can strengthen their diversity and inclusion initiatives 

As an Asian American woman who grew up in America when the population of US was about 152 million and the Asian immigrant population was a little over 300,000.  I understand what it feels like to be the only one, to feel invisible and not have your voice be heard. My TED Talk tells the poignant story of experiencing the feeling Mother Teresa described as the worst experience any human being can experience, being unwanted. This is a very human experience that we many people have experienced at some point in their life. 

As the healthcare community searches for solutions to have a more equitable healthcare system, we are offering one that addresses the the root cause of racism - the mindset. The Sun poem can easily be utilized in any diversity and inclusion initiatives from a dialogue to workshops and training programs. It can ignite change in the individual.  It just requires leadership, a commitment to address the root cause of racism and creating a more equity in healthcare. 

We need talented people to help us overcome the barriers in healthcare organization to utilize our TED Talk as an educational resource tool to cultivate a mindset of valuing all people.  A number of healthcare professionals have viewed it and gave it great review, here are two examples:

“Remarkable talk Sara! I loved it. It really touches the heart of a listener. Great organization of your message and a call to action in the end--it was concise and engaging.” Shweta Patakkode, Healthcare professional

”Very powerful message, you are a talented speaker—articulate, perfect pace and gestures!.”  C. Keith Ozaki, M.D., F.A.C.S, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School 

If the individual healthcare professional sees the power and value of the TED Talk which is free, what is the barrier in the healthcare organization especially since racism has been declared a public health crisis.

The TED Talk offers a solution to uncovering and overcoming all unconscious biases.  We need the help of talented people to overcome the barriers to help us breakthrough the whatever the barriers to healthcare organizations and educational institutions who educating the next generation of healthcare providers.  They need to become more self-aware of their unconscious biases.  We have the tools that can help them. The comments from the few medical doctors who have watched the TED Talk underscores the impact it can make.

Imagine if all the healthcare providers of MGH watched the TED Talk the impact it could have reducing and minimizing unconscious biases.

World Unity Inc. has been presenting an innovative approach to address racism and all forms of biases since 1994.  

All humans have unconscious bias. No one is free of it. 

Our innovative solution to engage the person to change by looking within.  Laws and policies cannot remove unconscious biases.  Dr. King recognized you can pass all the laws you want, you cannot legislate the heart.  And Einstein once said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same problem that created it.  You must stand on a higher ground."

We have a tool that can ignite change within the individual transform the mind and the heart, evoke change.  Stories have been shared where individuals experienced these changes. The TED Talk offers the Sun poem and dramatic stories of individual who learned open mindedness, humility and forgiveness just by being exposed to the poem - Are you greater than the sun/that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate. Open mindedness is an imperative if one is to overcome unconscious biases.

The TED Talk presents the Sun poem as a tool that can and has ignited change. The poem is timeless, universal and transformative. The individual must be willing to be self-reflective, be honest with oneself, step out of ones comfort zone and grow.

There is a very famous quote knowledge is power. There is a missing line.  Knowledge is power only if you apply it.

World Unity Inc. has a simple, timeless, universal and transformative poem that can empower all people to overcome their unconscious biases if they are willing to truly reflect on the question in this Sun poem - Are you greater than the sun/that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate (c)1985 Sara Ting

You cannot force people to be honest with themselves and you cannot force people to become self-aware.  It is up to the individual to do the work. The Sun poem offers a way to be reflective without feeling judgment, shame or guilt.  

The impact we wish to have the next year is to have one healthcare organization utilize the TED Talk as an educational resource tool for professional development to overcome all unconscious biases.

To achieve this requires cultivating a relationship, having ongoing dialogue helping healthcare professionals see the value of the program based on the feedback.

The impact goals for the next five years is for the TED Talk to be utilized in 5 healthcare organizations as a tool for healthcare organization to overcome unconscious biases.

Our impact goals is to engage healthcare organizations to consider the TED Talk as an educational resource tool to become more self-aware, look within to cultivate a mindset and hear to value all people.

We are measuring it by the number of healthcare professionals who watch the TED Talk and the feedback. The more healthcare professionals we have watching and offering great feedback the stronger the evidence for health care organizations to utilize it.  

Here are comments from some healthcare professionals:

“Remarkable talk Sara! I loved it. It really touches the heart of a listener. Great organization of your message and a call to action in the end--it was concise and engaging.” Shweta Patakkode, Healthcare professional

”Very powerful message, you are a talented speaker—articulate, perfect pace and gestures!.”  C. Keith Ozaki, M.D., F.A.C.S, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School

“You’re a great speaker and the stories about the impact of the poem are impressive. ” Margaret Lee, M.D. Boston Medical Center

 I watched your TED Talk on YouTube and it blew me away.  What an inspiring story!  Mona Amed, cardiologist.

The TED Talk continues to make an impact on individuals and healthcare professionals.  The challenge we find is the organization being open to solutions to diversity, equity and inclusion that comes from outside the organization.

We will continue to share the TED Talk, invite healthcare professionals to watch and receive feedback to build strong evidence of its value.

My theory of change when it comes to addressing unconscious biases requires a commitment from the individual. You can change something you are not aware of and you cannot force a person to become more of their unconscious biases. Three steps need to happen to have change:

1) Person needs to be willing to look within

2) Person needs to be willing to be honest

3) Person needs to be willing to change

All these steps require the person's willingness to do them. You cannot force a person to become self-aware and you cannot force a person be honest with oneself.

The TED Talk has offers a powerful poem that can ignite the change. The talk offers stories where it has.

There is no question the TED Talk is a powerful educational resource tool that can help healthcare professionals become more self-aware of their unconscious biases.  Here are comments from a few healthcare professionals who watched the TED Talk:

 “Remarkable talk Sara! I loved it. It really touches the heart of a listener. Great organization of your message and a call to action in the end--it was concise and engaging.” Shweta Patakkode, Healthcare professional

 ”Very powerful message, you are a talented speaker—articulate, perfect pace and gestures!.”  C. Keith Ozaki, M.D., F.A.C.S, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School

“You’re a great speaker and the stories about the impact of the poem are impressive. ” Margaret Lee, M.D. BMC.

With technology we have been able to think big, beyond Boston and America. We could never imagine reaching healthcare organizations across the state, the country and beyond.

We have been able to reach hundreds of people with our TED Talk.  We have posted our TED Talk on our website which gives us a platform to reach the world 24/7.

We have received a comment from a leader as far away as Sydney Australia.

“Thank you Sara for your message about your Ted Talk. Our work is strongly aligned. So powerful. We need to be wanted!!! If the sun shines on all of us,  perhaps we can shine on each other. Wishing you much success. (Rabbi) Zalman Kastel - founder Together For Humanity Sydney Australia

The technology is a powerful tool that gives us the opportunity to share our powerful TED Talk to enlighten, empower and inspire! 

Overcoming unconscious biases in healthcare professionals requires a commitment from the individual and the organization to make it a priority, put money and time into initiatives.  We have the tools and need healthcare organizations willing to be open to ideas that come from organizations outside of healthcare. 

The problem of prejudice and unconscious bias is a human problem not a medical problem.  All humans have unconscious biases. The solution can be solved by a person without a medical degree. Technology is a powerful tool that can make the solution easily accessible and make it available anywhere in the world. 

World Unity Inc. promotes diversity, equity and inclusivity by raising self-awareness through the Sun poem and empowering and inspiring individuals through the arts, education and innovative ideas.  The Sun poem begins with a question - Are you greater than the sun/that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/the sun does not discriminate.

This poem guides us.  We have diverse board and volunteers.  The president is Asian American woman who is very conscious of ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are heard.  

We recognize that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusion organization begins with each person. The more self-aware the individual is it will impact the organization and the initiatives we create.  Madame Curie who is only one of four individuals who won the Nobel Prize twice once said, "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individual.  To that end, each of us must work on our own improvement." The president wrote the Sun poem and has used it to guide her in her words and actions.

We are providing a TED Talk that can empower healthcare professionals to overcome all unconscious biases. Healthcare professionals who have watched the TED Talk and offered feedback continue to reflect the value and power of the talk.

This is available on our website and YouTube. 

Why do healthcare want and need this talk?

Healthcare organizations need this because in 2020 according to the American public health association 145 cities and counties across 27 states declared racism a public health crisis.

Healthcare organizations need a tool that is effective, can be easily utilized and proven to be effective. Our tool has all these qualities and is free.

We are operating on donations and grants to promote our TED Talk to healthcare organizations.  We have a simple colorful magnet of the Sun poem individuals can purchase to have it as a simple tool to serve as a reminder.

We raise funds through our annual major fundraiser, donations and grants.  We hope to build an endowment that will provide the funds for the organization to be sustainable.

We started out with no money.  In 27 years we have raised funds where were have never been in the red.  We have always been able to operate. Well-known companies and educational institutions have been sponsors at our annual fundraising event.  We hope that our TED Talk will give us more  recognition and make in impact in addressing all forms of unconscious biases.