LSU Health New Orleans Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy
LSU Health New Orleans honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a series of events beginning on January 17, 2022. Events and conversations held throughout the week paid tribute to Dr. King's legacy, inspired hope, and challenged the LSU Health New Orleans family to determine a more inclusive and equitable way forward. Events included an individual day of service on Monday. All members of the LSU Health New Orleans community were encouraged to celebrate and honor the work, life, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a volunteer effort, community service project or educational initiative.
“Dr. King was one of our country's great leaders. While we take this time to reflect on his contributions to racial and economic justice, we must also reflect on our own commitments and actions - as individuals and as an institution - to continuing his important work of promoting equality for everyone,” said Interim Dean Dr. Richard DiCarlo.
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement hosted a virtual discussion focused on the history of civil rights as a determinant of public health and health equity. The paper “Civil rights as determinants of public health and racial and ethnic health equity: Health care, education, employment, and housing in the United States” was the subject of the panel discussion. They also planned, but ultimately postponed until in February due to high Covid rates and in honor of Black History Month, a screening of The Power to Heal narrated by Danny Glover. The video screening was followed by an in-person panel discussion that included special guest physicians Drs. Ernest Kinchen and Kenneth Brown. In 1975, Dr. Brown completed his residency at Louisiana State University, Charity Hospital at New Orleans and was the first African American OB/GYN Resident for LSU. Dr. Kinchen was the first African-American resident in the Tulane and Charity Hospital System, the first Dillard University Rhodes Scholar candidate, and was the first African-American doctor with privileges at Lafayette General Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The School of Graduate Studies and the SGS Diversity & Inclusion Committee hosted a virtual Tea Talk: Dr. Martin Luther King's, Jr.'s Philosophies within the Sciences.
The Student Council for Equity-Focused Leaders and the School of Nursing partnered to virtually screen the film Good Trouble with follow-up discussions. School of Nursing graduate students hosted a virtual photo exhibition and discussion. The DEI Student Association in the School of Nursing sent a daily “Did You Know” fact about a SON faculty/administrator from an underrepresented background with a quote/statement about how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced their role as a nurse and/or the nursing profession.
The School of Public Health invited the community to submit photographs depicting either diversity, equity and inclusion in Louisiana, or of homogeneous, inequity and exclusion. Those submitting photographs were asked to describe the subject and how the images of justice or injustice spoke to them.
The School of Allied Health Professions hosted a virtual discussion led by Dr. Jerald James of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy, including his origin in the civil rights movement, the impact of his faith, challenges he encountered, likeminded allies in the struggle, and continuing his legacy via our role in health care.