Building Communities That Thrive: A conversation with Dr. Thea James.

In the United States, your zip code is a powerful predictor of how long you live. For someone in Newton, Massachusetts, life expectancy extends well into the 90s. But drive just an hour south to New Bedford, and you'll find it drops to an average of just 68 years old.

It's tempting to boil down good health solely to factors like medical care, healthy food, and exercise. However, these things alone don't explain that 25-plus year gap between these two communities. Many other dynamics contribute to the difference there and in neighborhoods throughout New England. Historic policies like redlining and racial segregation, along with substandard housing, air pollution, crumbling infrastructure, and lack of access to jobs, healthy food, and green space all play a role.

Perhaps no one understands the interplay of these factors better than those who work in healthcare. Dr. Thea James, who serves as Boston Medical Center's Associate Chief Medical Officer, Vice President of Mission, and Director of the Violence Prevention Program, began her career at the hospital nearly 30 years ago. In her work, she sees firsthand how the places where you live, work, and play impact health--both physically and mentally. As a member of CLF's Board of Trustees and co-chair of the CLF Ventures Board, Dr. James advises the organization on its work to create healthier neighborhoods and economic opportunities through its Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund. Boston Medical Center is an institutional investor in the Fund.

We recently checked in with Dr. James to understand how the Center is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and to hear from her about the work still to be done to create healthier, more thriving, and more equitable neighborhoods for all.

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

What prompted you to choose emergency medicine as your specialty?

I never actually entertained other specialties. I liked the notion of not knowing what's coming next. I also recognized that people show up to the emergency room with all forms of emotions: fear, angst, sadness, depression, sometimes just anger. And, as a provider, I would have the opportunity to shift that person's perspective by just being there, hearing where they're coming from, and sort of walking them to a better place.

Nobody listens to patients, really. Doctors listen for what they're taught to listen for --the disease and what's going on with the disease. You've got a bellyache and the doctor will ask, "Okay...