JEDI Spotlight with Christine Harb, DO
Dr. Christine Harb is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota’s UMMC Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Harb stands out as a remarkable advocate for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) within the healthcare community. With a dedication that began long before her residency program, Dr. Harb has made significant contributions at local, national, and international levels, all while balancing her medical training. Her overarching goal is to create equitable healthcare spaces for marginalized identities, and she actively works to build the public health infrastructure necessary to support these efforts. From developing a JEDI curriculum to engaging in legislative advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr Harb’s initiatives reflect her commitment to fostering change and inclusivity in healthcare. Dr. Harb’s innovative approach combines education, advocacy, and creative expression, making her a powerful voice for those in need and an inspiring figure for her peers and faculty alike.
You have been incredibly active in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work throughout your residency. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of all the people who have made concerted efforts to contribute to the movement of our collective liberation. I have seen so many folks commit to educating themselves about U.S. imperialism and the ways in which our academic and healthcare institutions have not only been complicit but have actively participated in repressing human rights activists across the U.S.
The American economy is wholly dependent on the war industry, and it benefits from genocide in Palestine and forever wars anywhere and everywhere. Now, people are rising up across the country to demand equitable change in our domestic and foreign policies so that we may build a future that is worthy of our children and that, beyond my own personal achievements, fills me with pride.
How would you like to see family medicine continue to collaborate and leverage our partnerships to foster health equity?
Family medicine is most effective when its practitioners are deeply engaged with the communities they serve. As federal policies continue to limit access to basic healthcare resources, it is imperative that we go beyond medicine and step into our role as human rights advocates with the understanding that systems make people sick, and it is our duty to address them.
It is important that every initiative is community-led and that we, as physicians, use the tools that come with our privilege to amplify the voices of those who have historically been silenced. I believe some of the most pressing issues in Minnesota are the epidemic of substance use disorders, especially fentanyl, as well as the issue of police brutality, which is still present in our highly segregated communities of color. There are many local BIPOC organizations across the Twin Cities who are doing great work related to these issues, and it is important that we partner with them to build community-centered and sustainable interventions.
Do you have advice for new residents joining the department who are interested in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work?
My advice to incoming residents who are interested in doing JEDI work is to understand that if we truly wish to heal our patients, we must heal the world around them, too. This work is the ultimate demonstration of care for the well-being of our patients.
Moreover, be kind to yourself. Residency is incredibly busy, and you may not be able to do everything you would like to do. Know that each visit with your patients is making a difference, even if you are too exhausted to feel like it. We exist in an ecosystem of relationships that are inextricably linked, and each interaction and conversation can change someone's week, life, or world. Do not underestimate your contributions, but do not get so comfortable or hopeless that you stop trying. It may feel like the world is swinging into chaos, but remember that with great chaos comes great change!
And remember this: Hope is not just a noun. It is a verb. An action. A choice. A practice. A better world already exists; it is simply waiting for us to bring it to fruition.
How do you plan to carry forward your work in justice and equity as you begin the next phase of your career?
Activism is not a hobby for me; it is a means of survival. I will likely continue doing this work for the rest of my life because a world filled with injustice for anyone is not a world I will accept. What that will look like will continue to evolve over time. And luckily for me, this next phase of my career gives me the time to be even louder than before.
