ODCE Update
ODCE hosted a virtual discussion focusing on the history of civil rights as a determinant of public health and health equity on January 19, 2022.
“Given our challenging journey over recent years inclusive of the equity challenges associated with the pandemic this is an essential area for us to review as health equity was actually a critical (but not fully appreciated) element of the Civil Rights agenda during time period of Dr. King leadership and advocacy,” said Dr. Robert Maupin Jr., MD, Associate Dean, Office of Diversity & Community Engagement, in an email to School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students.
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. Dr. Rahn Bailey, Chair of Psychiatry, and Dr. Peggy Honore, who directs SOM Health Policy fellowship and curriculum, were two of the featured faculty panelists. Dr. Baily is a past president of the National Medical Association and Dr. Honore is a noted health policy scholar who has published with the authors of the paper being discussed.
ODCE originally intended to host an in-person viewing of a historical narrative video, The Power to Heal, which chronicles the critical events which moved to dismantle structures of systemic racism during the Civil Rights period through legislative and legal engagement. Due to pandemic safety issues, ODCE moved the viewing to February, Black History Month, to allow the video showing to be paired with an in-person discussion of key experiences through the perspectives of key legacy healthcare leaders and pioneers from our community.