In the tapestry of healthcare discourse, certain threads are often overlooked, their significance underestimated, or simply overshadowed by more prominent concerns. One such thread, crucial yet frequently marginalized, is the mental health of elderly Black individuals. However, four Xavierites, instilled with the university’s mission of promoting a more just and humane society like the thousands of alums who came before them, are determined to shed light on the importance of health equity for the elderly, especially those from communities who have been historically marginalized and underserved.

Trinity Faith Hoskins (sophomore), Xi McWilliams (junior), Kyler Cox (sophomore), A.A., and Alexis Smith (sophomore) were interviewed by and collaborated with other scholars and researchers to create “Engaging Historically Black Undergraduate Students in Geriatric Mental Health.” Thanks to the efforts of Hoskins as the “first author” of the article, the article was published as the main feature of the March 2024 edition of the “American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (AJGP),” the official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP).

The AAGP prides itself on advancing health equity for the most marginalized among the elderly, both domestically and globally. In 2023, AAGP hosted its annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and invited students from Xavier University of Louisiana to attend. A total of 10 Xavier undergraduates participated in the conference in 2023, with Hoskins, McWilliams, Cox, and Smith among them. During the gathering, event organizers used the opportunity to speak with and compile an editorial based on their conversations with the four Xavierites and used their responses to develop the article.

Other authors of the article include Rebecca Morgan, M.P.A.; Pallavi Joshi, D.O. M.A.; Ebony Dix, M.D.; Arushi Kapoor, M.D.; Kyle Hendrie, D.O.; Nicolas Perez-Palmer M.D.; Carmen Black, M.D.; and Victoria Kozar. Dr. Black and Hoskins prepared the interview guide and assisted in editorial formatting. The other non-Xavier collaborators conceived, designed, and implemented the host event.

The introduction to the article acknowledges that “No groups have suffered through American racism more chronically or pervasively than our Indigenous Nations and Black Americans who are ethnically descended from persons enslaved within the United States.” It also highlights how a lack of representation amongst the current pool of medical scholars and faculty needs to be rectified through mentorship and encouragement of such students earlier in their professional development.

The collaboration between the Xavierites and their fellow researchers explores how systemic racism affects the health of marginalized elderly adults. It emphasizes the need for fairness and diversity in the medical field, particularly in geriatric psychiatry.

Read the full article and responses of Hoskins, McWilliams, Cox, and Alexis Smith here.