The Little Mermaid remake was recently released, and I was excited to experience the film for a few reasons. First, it was my favorite animated Disney film of all time. It came out when I was three years old, and I watched the VHS tape until it didn’t work anymore. Yes, I’m dating myself. Second, there were updated lyrics and a Black Ariel. Although it was strangely controversial that Ariel would now be Black, I mean, do mythical creatures’ races really matter? I was probably a little more excited than I should have been about seeing this adaptation because representation matters. I went in ready to strongly criticize the film as much as the Iron Chef would critique a bland lobster dish, but left without anything but praise. It was breathtakingly well done!
Little did I know that this experience would ignite a deep dive into the history of the film, leading me to learn more about the film’s lyricist, Howard Ashman. Ashman was one of the main figures responsible for the Disney Renaissance that pulled the company up from a slew of theatrical failures into the musical hit-making machine of the late ’80s and early ’90s. He was the one who, per Disney, “gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul.” However, what most people didn’t know was that he was fighting a battle he would not win, having been diagnosed with HIV during the early phase of the AIDS epidemic.
Watching his documentary, I discovered that Ashman expressed his fear of getting tested after noticing symptoms, fearing the loss of his insurance and the stigma in the community. At that time, there wasn’t sufficient treatment or education available for the disease, making it essentially a death sentence. Despite this, he poured all of his energy into leaving a legacy through the music he created for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. He even wrote Prince Ali from his hospital bed, where he would eventually pass away from complications of AIDS.
This story is heartbreaking for numerous reasons. Firstly, the world lost a genius and master storyteller at the young age of 40. If he had developed the illness at another time, he could still be here to tell his own story while bringing smiles to our faces through film. It is flabbergasting that 30 years later, we still have patients experiencing similar fears. While there have been advancements in HIV care, people continue to face ostracization, testing is not as heavily promoted as it should be, and doctors sometimes discourage the use of PrEP for judgmental reasons.
What resonates with me the most is that Howard Ashman left us the gift of storytelling and hope. Reflecting on The Little Mermaid’s infamous Part of Your World song shows us that we can dream up something better and make it happen. “What would I give if I could live …”
If we could apply the Disney model of storytelling to think bigger in health care, we could change the system. We are currently in the midst of a health care revolution, with telehealth breaking down barriers, biotech pushing out innovations, and the digital therapeutic sector changing patient engagement. While all of these advancements are important, it’s crucial to consider why we may not be seeing the desired outcomes. The answer is simple: we are not collaborating effectively to connect the stories.
In the world of digital health, countless startups have good intentions but often lack the necessary structure and composition to truly innovate and create change. The same can be said for traditional health care teams, where there is an ongoing debate about who should lead: physicians or non-health care trained administrators. For example, telemedicine has the potential to revolutionize health care access for all, but currently, most subject matter experts work in silos without sufficient cross-communication and collaboration. This lack of collaboration leads to the same results we’ve always had – inequity, inability to afford care, and early deaths for certain marginalized communities, like Mr. Ashman.
To truly innovate in health care, we must break down these silos and think beyond traditional structures. We can look to companies like Disney for inspiration. For instance, Disney’s Imagineers are a team whose purpose is to dream bigger and develop ideas without limitations. It’s time for health care professionals, administrators, researchers, and innovators to come together, embracing a “no box” approach and leaving limiting beliefs at the door. We can create teams that are diverse, intricately structured, and capable of solving health care’s most pressing issues.
It’s time for us to collaborate and create the change we need in health care by breaking down silos and thinking beyond traditional structures. Together, we can create a whole new world of health care that is equitable, accessible, and truly innovative.
Erkeda DeRouen is a family physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr Erkeda DeRouen.
