Legend has it that my grandfather was on a NY subway, when he was in his 60s, saw a young man, and immediately identified him as the grandson of his neighbor from Dusseldorf in Germany. And the legend includes many similar stories which are hard to understand—but that was my grandfather.

So, playing a game of geography with new acquaintances is something which comes naturally to me. And that very often leads to uncovering many shared friends, colleagues, and occasionally, even family members. It also often leads to some very interesting conversations which are completely unanticipated.

It is important to know that I don’t shy away from disagreement; I embrace it. I think disagreeing respectfully makes us stronger and smarter and more able to deal with a broader scope of events and people.

This event, did not, in fact, happen in an elevator, but in a cafeteria. But I will not take on the moniker “Cafeteria Guy.” Enjoying my cup of coffee in a Baltimore hospital cafeteria, I am suddenly made aware that the room is full.  Some stranger, a young black woman who was a nurse in the hospital, asked if I minded if she could sit and ate her lunch “with me.” “Of course” I answered and cleared some room for her to sit. Not wanting to be rude, I introduced myself and asked what she did. And offered, “bon appetit” thinking that would end the conversation.

In between bites, she asked me about the “racial divide” in Israel. I wasn’t sure if she was referring to the gap between Ethiopian/Sephardic/Ashkenaz Jews, or Jews vs Arabs, so I was very vaguely describing the general population in Israel. She was more specific, asking about darker skin vs lighter skin Jews and how they are represented in our healthcare system, and how they are treated by the healthcare system.

I honestly didn’t know what to say. Both because, honestly, I had never thought about it, and because I didn’t know what she was seeking.  But honestly, this was the first time I had been made aware of the race gap, of the socio-economic gap, of not only the difference in “access” but also in their experience from within the hospital system. How much is financial capabilities vs cultural challenges? What role does specific health education play on some of those gaps? 

I grew up on the aphorism "a rising tide lifts all boats" but it seems like some boats are sinking rather than being lifted up. But we’re in 2020, and the life expectancy gap between people of different race, in one city, can still be as large as THIRTY YEARS*. In the UNITED STATES. This is very troubling and hard to understand.

I don’t proffer to offer any solutions or answers, but as we focus on innovation in healthcare, I would want to believe that some of our great innovative tools can start the process of healing and shrinking those gaps.