UVM Medical Center launches new program to close haircare inequity among Black patients
The hospital enlisted the help of a local Black business owner and hair stylist referred to as 'the GOAT' of hair braiding
The hospital enlisted the help of a local Black business owner and hair stylist referred to as 'the GOAT' of hair braiding
The hospital enlisted the help of a local Black business owner and hair stylist referred to as 'the GOAT' of hair braiding
The University of Vermont Medical Center is launching a new program on the first day of Black History Month that's aimed at closing the patient inequity gap when it comes to patient hair care.
Local Black business owner and hairstylist Pascale Onguende has been enlisted to help teach staff how to properly care for Black patients' hair.
"I have had clients that were discharged from the hospital that were in the hospital for a few months, and by the time they were discharged – because their hair was not properly cared for — they end up having to shave their hair," said Onguende.
The business owner and stylist immigrated from the Republic of Congo to the Bronx with her family, where she and her four sisters learned how to braid and style hair professionally. They opened salons in New York and Connecticut, where Onguende lived before she eventually moved to Vermont to study at Champlain College.
Onguende said, "Every time I walked into the campus, people looked at me and stopped, [asking] 'Who did your hair?' So this is how I was discovered. I just started to do hair in my house but I quickly realized as the years went by – the need was greater than just my basement."
It became a need she chose to pursue over her career in the medical field after graduating. In 2021, she opened her salon, called Braids by Pascale, located at 1174 Williston Rd. in South Burlington.
"I have had so many cries in this chair here. I have people right after doing their hair, and they look into the mirror, and they just cry like, 'Oh my gosh, I have never seen myself like this,'" said Onguende.
Braids can take up to seven or eight hours to complete. Onguende is known locally in the Black community as "the greatest of all time" for her speedy and high-quality work – finishing braids in three to four hours.
Word of mouth spread to UVMMC, which reached out to Onguede for its new haircare program.
The president and COO, Steve Leffer and vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of UVMMC, Marissa Coleman, released a statement about the program to NBC5. “As of February 1, our hospital will begin stocking a wider range of hair care products, and our staff is already receiving training to address this specific area of inequity. This effort aligns with our broader commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing culturally humble health care services to all we serve.”
Vanessa Rose, an executive assistant in the executive office, helped create this new program. She also released a statement to NBC5. "Pascale Onguende has been vital with an incredible skill set as a hair stylist in our community and her own experience as a Black woman with curly hair. The education she’s provided will have a huge impact on patient care because everyone who walks into our facilities will be sure to get their individual hair needs met. It’s been a pleasure working alongside her.”
Back at the salon, Onguende does more than braids; she operates a full salon and does bridal hair and makeup as well.