Meet Rahmatu Kassimu | Public Health Consultant, Academic Writing Coach, Public Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rahmatu Kassimu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rahmatu, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Health disparities affect African American/Black people disproportionately in our country. Much of the disparity is due to a lack of access and information—particularly a lack of knowledge of how to advocate for oneself effectively. I do the work I do to reduce these health disparities and increase the quality of life in POC, particularly African American/Black people. Additionally, I’ve seen many good ideas or writing projects be passed over or not receive the attention or reception they deserve simply because they needed proper formating or assistance in executing their message. I coach in academic writing to allow these voices to shine through.

Dr. K.’s Health Minute is a labor of love. I’ve seen and heard of so many instances, particularly stories of Black and Brown people who have had health concerns diminished or ignored to their detriment. So many stories of Black women experiencing horrible health outcomes due to lack of access, lack of knowledge, systematic racism, discrimination, or lack of advocacy. As a platform, I created DKHM to educate and empower, for we are our keepers. I provide services intended to educate, advocate, and motivate.

I made DKHM to serve as a source of tailored health and wellness information free from jargon that can confuse or leave one feeling powerless to take charge of their health. They say that “health is wealth,” but advocacy and knowledge are the currency.

As a platform, DKHM provides easily accessible and digestible “Health Minutes” to thousands of followers, empowering them to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves.
As a public health consultant and public speaker, I have been featured on Black Girls Can Heal, Public Health Me, and “I’ve Been Waiting,” an upcoming documentary discussing Black women’s experiences with medical racism, among other projects.
The Workdesk, the Academic Writing Coaching side of DKHM, has completed over 125 editing projects, 50 dissertations, and coached 20 clients to PhinisheD.

I am set apart from others because I offer a client-specific and client-tailored approach to every project to ensure that goals are met, and clients walk away not only feeling that those goals have been met but that they are empowered to carry forth what they’ve learned to help others.

I operate on the principle of “Sankofa,” which means, “go and bring it back.” I want everyone to be able to bring back the knowledge and skills they’ve garnered back to their own communities to elevate.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My trajectory is full of winding turns and resilience.

It definitely has not been a smooth road. However, I think that I am very good at projecting the image that it has been. As stated before, my mom and I were in and out of homeless shelters until I was 5. Our first apartment was in the projects, but you couldn’t have told my momma that it wasn’t a high-rise downtown. It was our little piece of heaven, and we made it work. I’d like to say that that was the only time in my life that we were homeless, but that would be a lie. I’d like to say that bills were always paid, cars were never repossessed, and that my momma never struggled, but that would be a lie. She did indeed struggle, but she always made sure that my brothers and I were cared for and covered in her love. Many people often assume that college was easy for me because I’m smart. That was not the case, by any stretch of the word. I was smart, yes, but I was also undisciplined and didn’t know how to study. Freshman year kicked me in the front teeth, and I almost quit a FEW times, but my drive wouldn’t allow it.
I adjusted and thrived. By the time I began pursuing my PhD, I had kind of nailed this school thing down. Or so I thought. Writing my dissertation, coupled with the hot dumpster fire that was the year 2016, sparked a high-functioning depression that took me MONTHS to acknowledge. The hustler refused to ask for help, which crushed me until I did. I took small actions each day to keep myself lifted and developed a system of care for myself that included social support, journaling, meditation, and prayer. It’s not a perfect system, and there are often slumps, but I never allow myself to sink as far as I did that year and bounce back rooted in my purpose and identity, always looking to the future.
Then I hit a slump trying to find positions in my field. I had the education and training, but the experience was lacking because I’d been in school straight from high school. This garnered me 3 degrees, including a PhD before 30, but not much practical experience in my field. I took internships anywhere I could and honed my skills that way but the job hunt still stalled. That, coupled with a few friends experiencing health issues and tragedies, provided the push to launch my consulting business finally. I was determined to create change and decided I’d need to pave my own path to do so.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like a mix of things, and that’s honestly one of the best things about Dallas because you can find multiple things to suit varied interests.

I love our art scene, so a trip to the Dallas Museum of Art would be on my itinerary.

Deep Ellum offers walkable sights, boutiques, and shops with things you don’t realize you want or need until you see them.

I love nature and being outside, so any patio, rooftop, or outdoor restaurant is a definite must for the itinerary, weather permitting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My momma ingrained a spirit of hustle in me. It was never anything that she explicitly taught me. She modeled it for me every day. My mother came here from Liberia when she was pregnant with me, seeking the American dream for her half-Liberian, half-Ghanaian baby girl. It was more a nightmare than a dream for her, at times. We were primarily homeless in homeless shelters in Oak Cliff and couch surfing for the first five years of my life. My little brothers came along, adding stressors to her life because she was not yet stable. She became a legal resident when I was ten due to hard work, perseverance, and tenacity. After that, she began building stability for my brothers and me. It was not always perfect; we often couch-surfed, lived in single rooms, and spent a night or two in shelters. Despite this, my mother ensured that we were never without essentials and never felt unloved. She made sure that love freely flowed in my home, even in correction, because she wanted us to be better and to know that we always had a place of refuge that wasn’t tied to a place. I watched my momma toll. I watched her make a way out of no way, which was ingrained in me. This has served me on my journey through school, my career, and establishing and building my business. It bred tenacity in me. I may get delayed, take a detour, or take a break, but I will get it done. I will find a way. Momma raised a kind-hearted hustler.

Website: https://www.drkshealthminuteextended.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr.ks.healthminute

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rahmatu-kassimu-ches/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kinke_Queen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKsHealthMinute

Other: https://twitter.com/Kinke_Queen

Image Credits
Jamie Denae Photos