Carolyn Coker Ross MD

09/24/2025

Five years ago, I stepped onto the TEDx stage to talk about a subject that lies at the very heart of my work: intergenerational trauma. The question I explored then is perhaps more relevant today than ever: How do we find the gifts hidden within the legacies of trauma we inherit?

In my talk, "How To Maximize The Gifts of Intergenerational Trauma," I shined a light on what can feel like an abyss, connecting the dots between our ancestors' experiences and our own struggles with addiction, eating disorders, and mental health.

The core message is one I see in my practice every day: the legacy of trauma spans generations. But so does our resilience. The pain and challenges are real, but within them lie incredible opportunities for healing, strength, and breaking cycles.

If you're navigating your own family's history or working to help others heal, I invite you to watch. The conversation about intergenerational trauma is far from over—in many ways, it's just beginning.

What "gifts" or strengths have you seen emerge from your own family's story of resilience?

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdFLCc3RtM&t=400s

09/23/2025

With millions now using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, we have to ask a difficult question: Are we creating a public health crisis for those with eating disorders?

For Black women with Binge Eating Disorder, who are already systematically misdiagnosed and told to "just lose weight," this trend is especially dangerous.

In our latest episode, expert Paula Edwards Gayfield and I discuss how these medications can sabotage the essential work of recovery. This isn't just a hypothetical problem—it's happening in treatment centers right now.

To hear why this is a critical issue for patients and providers alike, find the Inclusive Minds Podcast wherever you listen.

Want to bring inclusive change to your organization?

Invite Dr. Ross to speak or lead a training. Learn more at CarolynRossMD.com

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp12

08/29/2025

Ready to deepen your understanding of the complex issues we face in healthcare and society?

Swipe through to meet some of the incredible experts from my podcast, Inclusive Minds. ➡️

Each episode, we move beyond the headlines to have nuanced, vital conversations on everything from systemic racism in medicine to the true meaning of allyship. The goal is to equip fellow healthcare professionals and leaders with the context and lived experiences needed to foster real change.

Find the full episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Which conversation will you start with?

➡️ Invite Me to Speak: I would be honoured to bring my expertise in antiracism, trauma, and addiction to your next event or organization.

➡️ Training & Consulting: I offer tailored programs to help you build a more inclusive workplace and meet your unique goals.

🎙️ Listen to My Podcast: Tune into Inclusive Minds Podcast to hear my conversations with leading experts on health equity and social justice.

Let's connect!

08/14/2025

A paper mill. A rural town. And a childhood that would shape a future scientist.

This week, we're honored to welcome another amazing author from the book Anti-Blackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies, Dr. Shannon Jones.

When asked how she got into studying environmental justice, she points directly to her upbringing. In this clip, she explains how being "personally impacted" by growing up in a community and in a family with limited resources that depended on a polluting paper mill set her on her career path. This isn't just an academic subject for her; it's her story.

Tune in to the Inclusive Minds Podcast to hear how her past fuels her powerful work today!

Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxZQFFMzHkMGHjPbWQxmjw

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp9

08/12/2025

The stories we inherit are not always told in words. Sometimes, they are carried in our bodies, in the health of our families, in the unspoken anxieties that travel from one generation to the next.

This work is deeply personal to me. I wrote this chapter because as a physician, I kept seeing a pattern of chronic illness and stress in my Black patients that their current histories and lifestyle alone couldn't explain. It felt deeper, older. I realized that to truly heal my patients, I had to understand the story of how the effects of trauma from their ancestors was passed down, and how these effects also impacted their health today.

Want to bring inclusive change to your organization?

➡️ Invite Me to Speak: I would be honoured to bring my expertise in antiracism, intergenerational trauma, and addiction to your next event or organization.

➡️ Training & Consulting: I offer tailored programs to help you build a more inclusive workplace and meet your unique goals.

🎙️ Listen to My Podcast: Tune into Inclusive Minds to hear my conversations with leading experts on health equity and social justice.

Order your copy today, and to go deeper, listen to my podcast, Inclusive Minds, where I interview many of the brilliant authors from this book.

08/02/2025

Critical Race Theory isn't just about institutions - it's personal too.

Dr. Matthew Oware explains how race as a social construct operates at EVERY level - from courtrooms to classrooms to individual identity claims.

But here's the twist: if race is socially constructed, what happens when individuals make "micro-level claims" to racial identities?

The framework that explains systemic racism might also explain some very controversial personal choices...

🎧 Want the full breakdown of this complex theory in action? Listen to the complete episode of the Inclusive Minds Podcast - link below!

Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxZQFFMzHkMGHjPbWQxmjw

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp8

08/01/2025

Even as a highly experienced Black doctor running six clinics in NYC, Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean faced blatant bias in the medical profession.

It's a stark reminder that skill and experience are often overlooked when implicit bias is at play, impacting healthcare access and quality of care for minoritized individuals.

Listen to the full episode of The Inclusive Minds Podcast to delve deeper into this critical conversation and learn more about the lived experience of our amazing guest, Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean.

Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxZQFFMzHkMGHjPbWQxmjw

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp7

07/30/2025

The mental well-being of Black birthing people is often overlooked and stigmatized. A striking 40% of Black women and birthing people are impacted by anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Yet, many endure their entire pregnancy in silence, fearing that expressing their struggles with mental health will be "weaponized" against them.

This profound shame and stigma often stems from fears of intervention or being labeled "crazy," highlighting how far we still are from normalizing mental health in this country, especially within the Black community. This also contributes to significant healthcare disparities and speaks to the need for more trauma-informed care.

Listen to the full episode of The Inclusive Minds Podcast to delve deeper into this critical conversation and learn more about the lived experience of our amazing guest, Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean.

Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxZQFFMzHkMGHjPbWQxmjw

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp7

07/29/2025

"If race is socially constructed... can anyone just choose their racial identity?"

This question gets real complicated, real fast. Dr. Matthew Oware breaks down why self-identification isn't enough - and what happens when society's validation comes into play.

But here's where it gets controversial: What about when people profit from identities that aren't originally theirs?

The answer might challenge everything you think you know about race, identity, and authenticity.

Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxZQFFMzHkMGHjPbWQxmjw

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp8

07/25/2025

Dr. Matthew Oware breaks it down: Sure, you can identify however you want, but here's the catch - society has to actually accept that identity for it to be legitimate.

This reveals something profound about how racial identity actually works in our society. It's not just personal - it's communal.

🎧 Explore this complex intersection of identity theory and real-world application on the Inclusive Minds Podcast - link below!

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp8

07/24/2025

07/23/2025

We've all heard about Black individuals passing as white throughout history for safety and survival. But what happens when it goes the other way?

Dr. Matthew Oware introduces us to "reverse passing" - white individuals who pass as Black. This isn't just theoretical - we're talking about real cases with real consequences.

This definition is just the beginning of a much deeper conversation about identity, authenticity, and who gets to benefit from racial performance.

🎧 Ready to dive into the full analysis? Listen to the complete Inclusive Minds Podcast episode - link below!

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/InclusiveMindsPodcastEp8