In particular, the author examines COVID-19 with a focus on the segregated health system of the US. The US health system operates on the doctrine of 'separate but equal', whereby the dominant group has access to quality health care and people of color have access to a lesser quality or zero health care. 'Separation' implies and enforces inferiority in health care. Through the evidence presented, the author demonstrates that racial and ethnic health disparities are even worse than COVID-19. As in the past, this contagion, like other viruses, will dissipate at some point, but the disparities will persist if the US legislative and economic engines do nothing. The author also raises consciousness to demand a national commission of inquiry on the disproportionate devastation wreaked on people of color in the US amid COVID-19. COVID-19 may be the signature event and an opportunity to trigger action to end racial and ethnic health disparities. 

Topics covered within the chapters include:

COVID-19 and Health System Segregation in the US is a timely resource that should engage the academic community, economic and legislative policy makers, health system leaders, clinicians, and public policy administrators in departments of health. It also is a text that can be utilized in graduate programs in Medical Education, Global Public Health, Public Policy, Epidemiology, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Social Work.

Professor Misir is the holder of the PhD (University of Hull, England); MPH (University of Manchester, England); M.Phil (University of Surrey, England); B.S.Sc. (Honours) (Queen's University of Belfast, United Kingdom); Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH, England); and Certificate, Harvard University - Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety. 

Professor Misir was Visiting Professor of the University of the West Indies; Visiting Professor, Anton de Kom University in Suriname; and Honorary Professor at the University of Central Lancashire in England. He was the former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana.

In addition to journal articles, he is the author of 11 books, the most recent being: HIV/AIDS and Adolescents: South Pacific and Caribbean, Singapore, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019; The Subaltern Indian Woman: Domination and Social Degradation, Singapore, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018; and HIV & AIDS: Knowledge and Stigma in Guyana, University of the West Indies Press, 2013.