Skip to main content
Home

Main Navigation

  • Admissions
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • AIM Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers
  • MD Program
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information
  • Student Life
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security
  • About
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Community Impact
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Secondary Mobile Menu

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students

Utility Navigation

  • Request Info
  • Apply Now

Secondary Navigation

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
Search
Cancel Search
Home Home

RUSM Main navigation

  • Admissions

    Explore Admissions

    Are you a strong candidate?

    Take an Admissions Assessment
    Take the Admissions Assessment
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • AIM Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers

    Information For...

    Admitted Students

    Parents

    Premed Advisors

    MERP

  • MD Program

    Explore MD Program

    Do you have a question?

    student asking question
    Speak to Admissions
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information

    Related Links...

    MCAT Information

    Why Ross Med?

    Match Day

  • Student Life

    Student Life

    img for new Mega Menu
    Overview
    new Mega menu Square 5
    Housing
    New Mega Menu Image 6
    Campus Tour
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security

    Related Links...

    Merchandise Store

    Community Impact

    Mission & History

  • About

    About RUSM

    Start Your Road to Residency

    medical students
    Request More Information
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Community Impact
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials

    Related Links...

    Contact Us

    Campus Location

  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About
  3. News
  4. Dr. Samuel Williams on Mental Healthcare
Alumni

Dr. Samuel Williams: Addressing Social Determinants of Health is Imperative to Sustain Impactful Change in Mental Healthcare

Mon, 19 Oct 2020

Get Started Today

You'll submit your completed Ross Med application online in our application portal.

Apply Now
Samuel Williams

Amidst all the chaos and unrest caused by the pandemic and increasing racial tensions, one Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) alum has found a silver lining — using current events to highlight the social determinants of health and its paramount role in mental health awareness. Samuel Williams, MD, believes overall community health will improve once people understand the connection between racial discord and healthcare disparities.

“People are starting to see how racial inequalities contribute to health inequity among certain minority groups that have chronic illnesses and issues with disease management.” The medical director of child, adolescent and adult psychiatry said the first step to equalization is assessing and changing unconscious biases — social stereotypes that inadvertently affects a person’s behavior or attitudes. Then a review of the social determinants of health — genetics, behavior, behavior, environmental and physical influences, medical care, social factors — is needed to determine next steps. “Do people have access to food to remain healthy? For those traveling to doctor appointments, are there transportation issues? Are we increasing access and diversifying the healthcare workforce to include different ethnic cultures and backgrounds to bring unique perspectives?”

Simultaneously, there needs to be a stronger push for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) exposure to minority students. “These learnings have to go beyond the basics by showing the application to the everyday environment and the impact on everyday living. We need to link students with mentors from their ethnicity. It makes a difference when kids see someone who looks like them.”

More Apt to Get COVID-19

Unbalanced social determinants have contributed to the disproportionate number of Blacks affected by COVID-19, according to Williams. “A lot of minorities are essential workers and their availability to work from home or social distance is limited. Most live in multigenerational homes and their overall health status is not up to par, which makes them more prone to COVID because of comorbidities. There are a significant amount of people contracting the virus and succumbing to it in an inordinate amount of time. You realize — no matter what race — that these are real people and it hits home. It leaves you with uneasy feelings that you could be next and that causes a lot of uncertainty that then creates depression, anxiety and trauma.”

The mental-health spiral also spotlights those struggling with addiction. Williams reports some people may experience relapses because of isolation and canceled in-person therapy sessions and recovery groups due to COVID-19. “It’s not the same feeling as being in a room and hearing someone tell a story or being able to give a hug when someone is upset.” Williams encourages everyone to:

  • Reach out to family members or other avenues of emotional support
  • Utilize mindfulness skills, meditation techniques or spiritual activities
  • Engage in physical exercise to change scenery and breathe fresh air
  • Explore creative outlets like writing poetry or painting

 

“Anything that takes people’s mind off the pandemic and minimizes triggers like exposure to the news.”   

Using Personal Tools

Williams initially shied away from psychiatry for the very reason he dove back in. “I realized that I could make a significant difference because of what I’d gone through with my family. And maybe I could learn something that helps me personally in the process.”

Born in the U.S., Williams grew up in West Africa where he contracted malaria and first witnessed disparity in healthcare. That’s when he knew medicine was his calling and why he continues to advocate for change.

“It’s time to come up with solutions of how we address the problems and make healthcare equitable for everyone,” he said. “Racism is a public health issue because it impacts all health components. By addressing some structural racism that exists, we create opportunities for those who have been missing out for a long time.”

 

RUSM Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce 

A group of 16 RUSM students, faculty, colleagues and alumni have begun leading a holistic review of diversity, equity and inclusion at the university and will deliver a report of short- and long-term recommendations within the next few months. This is the first of many steps to sustain change at the infrastructure level.    

As RUSM prepares to engage, train, educate, advocate and invest in this process to align with the Black community at our University and in all the underrepresented and marginalized communities in which we serve, we invite others to share feedback with us because we know the fight for social justice is a community collaboration.

Share This Article

  • facebook
  • tiktok
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

The information and material contained in this article and on this website are for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used in place of, professional medical advice. Please speak with a licensed medical provider for specific questions or concerns. Ross Med is not responsible for the information maintained or provided on third-party websites or external links.

Related News

martina-white-coat
Alumni
A Mentorship Match Meant to Be: Martina Tripcovici, MD ’22
hana-malik
Alumni
Match Day 2025: A Childhood Dream is Fulfilled
raymond-ho
Alumni
CaRMS Match: Classroom Incident Inspires Teacher to Become Physician
Ross University School of Medicine
Apply Now
Contact Admissions

Campus Address:

Two Mile Hill St. Michael
BB11093
Barbados

 

Admissions Address:

10315 USA Today Way,
Miramar, Florida, 33025
Phone: +1 754.707.5547
Email: Admissions@Rossu.edu

RUSM Footer Sub menu

  • Information For
    • Admitted Students
    • Career Seekers
    • Current Students
  • Navigate
    • About RUSM
    • MD Program
    • Admissions
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Student Life
    • Contact Us
  • News & Events
    • Blog
    • News & Press
    • Events & Webinars
    • On-demand Webinars
    • Academic Calendar
Branded Element

© 2025 Ross University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

Hands-on From the Start®

Academic Catalog | Student Handbook | Student Consumer Information | Online Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement | Office of Nondiscrimination and Access | Cost of Attendance | Privacy Policy

 

Policy on Non-discrimination

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is committed to providing an education conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual and to maintaining an academic environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law in the admission to, access to, or treatment, or employment in any of its programs or activities. RUSM will not tolerate, condone, or allow discrimination or harassment, whether engaged in by fellow students, faculty members or non-faculty colleagues.

Connect with Ross Medical School

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Ross University School of Medicine is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP, www.caam-hp.org).

 

CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programs of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM.

Accreditation by CAAM-HP is a rigorous, peer review process which examines all aspects of a medical program. The CAAM-HP board, an independent and autonomous body of professionals, only certifies medical schools which are operating at the highest levels of industry standards.

Through this accreditation, the CAAM-HP provides assurance to medical students, graduates, the medical profession, healthcare institutions, and the public that programs leading to qualifications in medicine meet appropriate national and international standards for educational quality, and that the graduates have a sufficiently complete and valid educational experience.

CAAM-HP logo - transparent