How can we understand our own ailments as a map of society’s illness? A by-product of an inhuman, unbridled industrialized society where the pressures of productivity and the harm inflicted by violent institutions are causing a collective decline in health... On today’s episode, we explore these topics with Dr. Rupa Marya, whose work explores health issues at the nexus of racism and state violence. Dr. Marya’s musings inspire us to take a moment to think about the deep communication that goes on between the body and its surroundings and why we must approach medicine with root cause analysis if we ever want to see meaningful change. 

Rupa Marya, MD is Associate Professor of Medicine at UC San Francisco and Faculty Director of the Do No Harm Coalition, a collective of over 450 health workers committed to addressing structural issues that make health impossible for communities.

Dr. Marya has been working to make visible the health issues at the nexus of racism and state violence through: her medical work; The Justice Study (national research investigating the health effects of police violence on Black, Brown and Indigenous communities); helping set up a free community clinic for the practice of decolonized medicine under Lakota leadership at Standing Rock (the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic and Farm); and international outreach with her band, Rupa and the April Fishes. She is currently working on a book with author Raj Patel looking at the health impacts of colonization and capitalism.

Through her compositions and her band, Rupa & the April Fishes, they create a sound that pulsates with the pluralism of Bay Area culture, celebrating life and the art of resistance through a wide musical palette that pulls from over a decade of playing street parties, festivals and symphonic concerts through 29 countries with songs in 5 languages. Under the direction of composer, front-woman, activist and physician Rupa, the band creates a live experience which is a manifestation of a world beyond nations, where the heart of humanity beats louder than anything that divides us.

This expansive conversation touches on Dr. Marya’s work to decolonize medicine, the pervasiveness of medical debt, the need for medical reparations, and the fruitfulness of community-based medicine. Beginning with the basics of the health system, we explore how society might look like if the pursuit of health and wellbeing for all was at the foundation of our organizing. Dr. Marya ends this episode by reminding us that we have the opportunity and privilege to imagine a new way of being that centers wellbeing, healing, joy, and imagination.

♫ Music by Rupa and the April Fishes

Take Action

Explore Do No Harm Coalitions current & past actions here.

Learn more about The Justice Study here.

References

Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Poverty Scholarship: Poor People-Led Theory, Art, Words, and Tears Across Mama Earth by Tiny Lisa Gray-Garcia, Dee Garcia, & the Poor Magazine Family