Chief diversity officers from across the Southeastern Conference will offer a webinar, “A Pandemic in Our Communities—Health Disparities, Health Inequities and Possible Solutions,” on Wednesday, June 24. The event, which will explore the intersection of race and the COVID-19 health crisis, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. CT (2–4 p.m. ET). The Vanderbilt-hosted webinar is free and open to the public.
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“As thought leaders of our SEC institutions on matters of equity, diversity and inclusion, we can offer unique perspectives of our cities and regions on matters of health disparities, health inequities and possible treatments,” said Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Vanderbilt University André L. Churchwell, who organized the webinar. “Systemic health disparities and inequities have long persisted among people who are of lower socioeconomic status, as well as for African American, Latinx, Native American and other marginalized communities in the United States. We want to spotlight these issues and what our SEC institutions are doing and should be doing to address them.”
The two-hour COVID-19 webinar will include four panels comprising medical and public health experts, along with community leaders, to discuss the unique challenges of health disparities and health inequities resident in their communities and offer examples of plans and solutions. The 25-minute panel discussions, which will be moderated by chief diversity officers from various SEC schools, also will include participants from local governments in cities and areas that are home to SEC schools.
PANEL COMPOSITION AND ORDER OF PRESENTATION
Vanderbilt and the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County | 1–1:25 p.m.
Introduction
- André L. Churchwell, M.D., Levi Watkins Jr. M.D. Chair, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Vanderbilt University, chief diversity officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and senior associate dean for diversity affairs in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Opening remarks and moderator
- Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., MSCI, vice president for health equity at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, professor of medicine and associate dean for health equity in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
Panelists
- Alex Jahangir, M.D., MMHC, professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, director of the Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, executive medical director in the Vanderbilt Center for Trauma, Burn and Emergency Surgery, chairman of Metro Nashville’s Board of Health
- Amy Richardson, MPH, chief community health officer at Siloam Health
University of Florida System and University of Arkansas | 1:25–1:50 p.m.
Introduction
- Antonio Farias, M.A., chief diversity officer at the University of Florida
Opening remarks and moderator
- Leon Haley, M.D., vice president for health affairs at the University of Florida, dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville
Panelists
- Adrian Tyndall, M.D., MPH, FACEP, FAAEM, interim dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine
- Yvette Murphy-Erby, Ph.D., vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, professor of social work at the University of Arkansas
University of Alabama and Louisiana State University | 1:50–2:15 p.m.
Introduction
- G. Christine Taylor, Ph.D., vice president and associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Alabama
Opening remarks and moderator
- Pamela Payne-Foster, M.D., professor of community medicine and rural medicine at the University of Alabama, deputy director of the Institute for Rural Health Research at the University of Alabama
Panelists
- Corey Hebert, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, Ambulatory Division, Louisiana State University
- Felicia Lucky, MBA, executive director of the Black Belt Community Foundation, Selma, Alabama
University of Kentucky and Auburn University | 2:15–2:40 p.m.
Introduction
- Sonja Feist-Price, Ph.D., vice president for institutional diversity at the University of Kentucky
Opening remarks and moderator
- Anita Fernander, Ph.D., founder and chair of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Disparities Coalition, associate professor of behavioral science in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky
Panelists
- Michael D. Brown, Ph.D., FAHA, FACSM, FNAK, professor in the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University
- Sen. Reginald Thomas, Lexington, Kentucky
Closing remarks, additional questions and possible next steps | 2:40–3 p.m.
- Andre L. Churchwell, M.D.
- G. Christine Taylor, Ph.D.