Celebrating Black History Month: Columbus Urban League honoree Dr. Mysheika Roberts

Courtesy of ABC6
By Maria Durant
February 10, 2021

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — ABC 6/FOX 28 has partnered with the Columbus Urban League to celebrate Black History Month as the organization prepares to honor several Black women in Central Ohio.

One of these women is Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts. Over the past year, the pandemic made keeping Columbus safe a great challenge.

“This past year has been unbelievable,” Roberts said. ” I feel honored and privileged to be in this position. And to be able to lead our community through this pandemic, but the amount of work , the decisions, and the stress that I and my team have to make, that our mayor has to make has been stressful,” she said.

Columbus’ top doctor says she can’t forget when she asked the mayor to cancel “The Arnold Sports Festival.”

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus Public Health leader Dr. Mysheika Roberts on March 13, 2020 sharing that a public health emergency is coming. (WSYX/WTTE)

“I have to admit, I was surprised by the response I got that said, let’s talk more about this,” she said.

Roberts was appointed to the position of Health Commissioner in December 2017. She says her biggest personal achievement was finishing med school.

She encourages all women of color to work hard to achieve their goals.

Just being the minority is hard, and you have to be strong, and you have to be prepared.
“Just being the minority is hard, and you have to be strong, and you have to be prepared. And I think that’s what everyone has to understand. You have to be prepared and you have to be even more prepared than your peers,” said Roberts.