'The Chaplain and the Doctor' Spotlights the Fight Against Implicit Bias in Medicine

This episode of All of It features a powerful conversation with Betty Clark, a Black chaplain, and Dr. Jessica Zitter, a white Jewish physician, both central figures in the documentary 'The Chaplain and the Doctor.' The film, premiering at the Angelica Film Center in Soho, explores the profound impact of implicit bias in medicine through their decade-long collaboration at Highland Hospital in Oakland—a public hospital serving one of the most diverse populations in the U.S. Their work in palliative care reveals how hierarchical medical culture often marginalizes spiritual and emotional care, particularly for patients of color. Through intimate stories like that of Naomi, a young Black woman with severe lupus, the episode exposes systemic dehumanization, mistrust in the medical system, and the transformative power of listening, dignity, and cross-cultural empathy. The conversation underscores how trauma—both personal and ancestral—shapes professional perspectives and how dismantling professional silos and hierarchies can lead to more humane, holistic care.