Alicia Cole has portrayed nurses and doctors on shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Strong Medicine. She’s appeared in healthcare training videos and public service announcements. But her most prominent role is as a patient advocate.
In 2006, Cole checked into the hospital to have fibroids removed, a condition more common and more serious among women of color. What should have been a few days of downtime turned into a couple of months in the hospital after contracting several life-threatening infections. Ten years later, she faced another series of life-threatening infections. Recovering from both instances took years, nine additional surgeries and 11 blood transfusions.
Between admissions, though, Cole directed her energies toward patient advocacy. She’s served on several patients’ rights organizations, including the Presidential Advisory Council for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. When sharing her story, Cole always highlights the racial bias she and her family experienced, like questioning why hospital staff treated her father as part of the janitorial services.
“Instead of seeing it as a chance to discuss the culture of care, I was told, ‘We don’t get many Blacks here.’ People of color have to deal with those kinds of things in addition to their health situation,” she said.
Throughout her medical odyssey, Cole relied on her union.
“Had it not been for the union standing behind me, the years of medical treatment I’ve received would never have happened,” she insisted.
Cole also utilized the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Catastrophic Health Fund to help pay insurance premiums as well as support from The Actors Fund to cover mounting bills. “As actors, we take care of our own,” she said.
To donate to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Catastrophic Health Fund, visit sagaftra.foundation/donate.
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