NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The pandemic has exposed how many people don't have access to healthcare. Now, leaders from Meharry Medical College say it's time to take action and fix this problem.
A virtual health summit starts today and will be the first of a free, three-part virtual health summit series to reimagine and advance health equity, particularly related to oral health.
The first session will be held on Wednesday, February 17, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. with Meharry President Dr. James E.K. Hildreth and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, as well as other leading experts in the health field.
The summit will include a panel, which will be moderated by journalist Monique Pressley.
THe panelists include:
- Linda Keene Solomon: CEO, STEMbiotic Communities Inc. Solomon is a senior executive with 30 years of leadership, managerial, and board director experience serving the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors.
- Jeanne Craig Sinkford, D.D.S., Ph.D., D.Sc., FACD, FICD: Senior Scholar-in-Residence Emerita American Dental Education Association and Dean Emerita, Howard University. Dr. Sinkford is a nationally and internationally renowned dental educator, administrator, researcher and clinician.
- Charles E. Moore, MD, FAACE: Founder/President, HEALing Community Center and Chief of Service, Dept. of Otolaryngology, Grady Health System. Dr. Moore has a longstanding and profound commitment to the training and development of learners from all backgrounds. His research focus has been in the investigation of factors involved in healthcare disparity with a particular focus on head and neck cancer incidence in medically underserved communities.
“These conversations have never been more important,” said Dr. Hildreth, an infectious disease expert. “COVID-19 has only illuminated the gulf of health disparities that exist between majority and minority communities across our country, particularly in rural communities. Over the last year, we have further focused our collective efforts on addressing these disparities, and this Summit will provide our community with the opportunity to engage around how best to make long lasting changes that will impact the lives of all people.”
The Summit’s second session, “Motivating Action,” will be held. March 2021. This one will be focused on the importance of oral health on the pathway to overall health and well-being.
The third session, “Shaping Action for a Different Future,” is scheduled for June 2021 and will focus on a wide range of medical, dental and public health topics.
For more information about the health summit and to register, click here.
