Health Disparities Certification Series—in partnership with the Office of Faculty Affairs
GOALS of health disparities Certificate offered for the School of Medicine by The Center of Excellence on Health Disparities at Morehouse School of Medicine (which was established by Dr. David Satcher, the 16th Surgeon General of the United States):
- To increase knowledge about social determinants of health and disparities in health care and explore attitudes and behaviors that promote and/or mitigate disparities
- To engage in scholarship related to healthcare disparities
- To learn the relationship of health policy and community health delivery and explore opportunities to engage in health advocacy
The six-part series will support a comprehensive approach to establishing the causes of disparities from a population-based perspective that includes diversity as important marker of where and how inequities in health status occur and how and why they persist. The ultimate goal is to equip School of Medicine participants with the ability to examine and treat not only the illness but to foster liaisons in the community to address and remove persistent causes of disparate levels of morbidity and mortality. By intentionally focusing on instilling a vision for the health and well-being of the public, the health care system will become leader for health rather than simply an entity that bandages illnesses that will predictably reoccur unless innovation occurs in treatment of causes, along with a solid focus on treating the entire person, in collaboration with others.
It is clear that a distinct and complete portrait of disparities is not available. Standard practices in the U.S. health system are characterized by counting and notating those that seek care. And, data sharing and aggregation of same to generate a community profile does not occur. A major goal will be to re-examine what is known, what is not known, and to develop better protocols for assessing the health of populations and planning meaningful and permanent interventions.
Current needs assessments available in the community will be examined to develop a theoretical profile of current interventions. Visioning of strategies that may be more effective as a result of collaborative work of the health system with other agencies will be an integral part of getting started.
Lectures will consist of presentation of background data, examination of case studies, and interactive and collective problem-solving. Faculty from The Center of Excellence on Health Disparities and Morehouse School of Medicine’s department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and National Center for Primary Care will participate.
Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Network (in partnership with the Office of Faculty Affairs)
Mentorship has been shown to be integral to the success of students, trainees and faculty in academic medicine. Mentoring has particularly been shown to be an important component of nurturing and sustaining pipelines of diverse (defined broadly see the School of Medicine definition of diversity) students, trainees, and faculty. The School of Medicine is committed to creating a community that fosters the success of students and faculty in academic medicine and has launched the Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Network.
Purpose of the Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Network:
To create a community to foster success of diverse students and faculty in academic medicine. The School of Medicine embraces an inclusive excellence view of diversity that encompasses a broad definition of diversity that includes but is not limited to the following domains: 1st generation college students/graduates; individuals from socio-economically limited backgrounds; LGBTQ+ populations; students and faculty of color.
Diversity Speakers Series
The Diversity Speakers Series is intended to provide insight and understanding of multicultural issues to the Burnett School of Medicine community. This series is designed to introduce an essential component of education in helping audiences consider perspectives other than their own, encouraging civil debate, broadening the basis for critical thought and promoting cultural understanding.
Past Lectures include:
Antonia Novello, MD, the 14th Surgeon General of the United States, the first woman and first Hispanic to hold this position.