My interest in community medicine is simple … the more people I reach, the more lives I help save. Seeing patients is the most rewarding part of what I do. But as a doctor, I can only see one patient at a time. So after medical school I went on to get a Master's in Public Health. Educating the public about health allows me to touch many more lives. This kind of outreach is part of our health system's responsibility to educate and treat the entire community—including the disadvantaged and underserved populations, but in the end it all comes down to the one-to-one practice of medicine. If I convince you to take an active role in your own health, I've fulfilled my mission, for today.

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Elaine Hart-Brothers, MD, MPH
Board President

ABOUT

COMMUNITY HEALTH COALITION

Since 1989, North Carolina’s Community Health Coalition has focused on achieving health equity and eliminating racial health disparities in Durham County and the surrounding areas. Drawing from the experiences of Board President Elaine Hart-Brothers, MD, MPH, notable community partners and community volunteers, nurses, nutritionists and physicians, we strive to create a society in which all people live long, healthy, active lives full of purpose and promise.

We particularly focus on:

• Awareness of diseases and issues like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, insurance issues and organ and tissue donation

• Decreasing obesity among minorities within our community

• Educating the community on the dangers of tobacco and general substance abuse

• Highlighting and improving mental health services.

We believe it is the health system's responsibility to educate and treat the entire community - including the disadvantaged and underserved populations.