The UMass Chan Medical School Diversity and Inclusion Office has invited two dynamic women to accompany the Medical School in centering Black lives as part of its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion during and beyond Black History Month.
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, medical ethicist, award-winning medical writer and editor Harriet Washington will give two virtual talks on her book Medical Apartheid. In her book, Washington deconstructs the politics of medicine and, with real stories, unveils scientific racism that has caused mistrust between many African Americans and the medical community. Washington calls for change in the way medicine is studied and practiced.
Washington’s talks will culminate UMass Chan’s two-month Diversity Campus Read, which has brought the Medical School community together to process the ways it has seen these issues play out in the community and articulate ways to dismantle them. Students and residents are invited to an 11 a.m. event on Feb. 9 with Washington. The campus community is invited to a noon event that day with her.
On Feb. 16 at noon, Deborah Hall, founder of the Worcester Black History Project, will present, recognize and celebrate the experiences of Black people in Worcester and the surrounding area at UMass Chan’s Centering the Margins virtual dialogue series. The Worcester Black History Project encourages the preservation and sharing of history through scholarly educational outreach and programming.
Celebrated every February, Black History Month uplifts the stories, both past and present, of African Americans and the Black diaspora in the United States. Black History Month is both a celebration and a time to reflect on the steps we must take to ensure equal opportunity is available to the Black community.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History declared Black health and wellness as this year’s Black History Month theme to highlight the multiple facets of Black health and wellness through education and activism.
UMass Chan continues to make recruitment and retention of Black students, faculty and staff a priority under the leadership of Marlina Duncan, EdD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.
Related UMass Chan news stories:
At MLK tribute, Mary Munson recognized for commitment to diversity and inclusion in science field
Addressing racism in medicine is ‘everyone’s job and not a few’
UMass Chan Medical School creates affinity groups to support faculty and staff of color
