SHARED HARVEST FOUNDATION INC

Student loan debt relief (sldr) & financial wellness programalthough health experts stress the importance of health equity and increasing the number of bipoc healthcare workers, nearly one in five physicians of racially ethnically marginalized backgrounds report an increase in experiences of being treated with less dignity and respect by their patients due to their race since the onset of covid-19 (18.1%). This is further exacerbated by the burden of six figures of medical education and student debt that many bipoc health professionals carry. According to the education data initiative, 40% of black graduates have student loan debt from graduate school compared to 22% of white graduates. Additionally, four years after graduation, 48% of black students owe, on average, 12.5% more than they borrowed, while 83% of white students owe 12% less than they borrowed. These debt inequities lead to excessive financial burdens, delayed professional advancement, and high rates of depression/anxiety. The aim of our financial wellness and sldr program is to address these inequities by offering loan relief opportunities, partnering with financial institutions to provide financial education tools, resources and engage in advocacy work with the financial health network and its partner organizations.