Second Annual Health Disparities Conference

September 17, 2019

Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun, president, begins his session asking the audience for three wishes to eradicate health disparities.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler hosted the second annual Health Disparities Conference on Thursday, September 12, and Friday September 13, on the institution’s campus. Building upon great success from last year’s event, the conference’s theme revolved around finding solutions to the ABC’s (access, behavior and costs) of health disparities.

Given that East Texas’ health outcomes are among the lowest in the state, the need for the conference was apparent. The 28 counties that comprise East Texas have been cited as among the unhealthiest in the state. In a report jointly prepared and released in 2016 by The University of Texas System and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, this region, which covers more than 25,000 square miles with a population of more than 1.5 million people—50% of whom live in rural areas—ranks 45th in chronic lower respiratory disease mortality, 49th in heart disease mortality and 51st in stroke mortality. Moreover, the region ranks 45th in mortality from all disease-related causes of death.

The Health Disparities Conference served as a means to continue to increase awareness of the health disparities issue, discover existing, but unknown solutions in the community and understand how healthcare professionals can collectively work on sustainable solutions.

Health Disparities Conference sessions:

Overcoming the Obvious: Key Considerations – Dr. Kirk Calhoun
Rural Health Disparities – Dr. Vanessa Casanova
Overcoming Unconscious/Implicit Bias – Dr. Harrison Ndetan
Embracing Diversity in the Workplace/Short Play: Just Treat Me Like a Real Human
Infant/Maternal Health Disparities Initiatives – Dr. Kimberly Baker
Social Determinants of Health – Dr. Yordi Tiruneh
Panel Discussion: Collective Impact – What’s going on here?
Inspiring Young Black Men to Choose Careers in Medicine – Preparing the Next Generation of Healthcare Providers to address Health Disparities – Dr. Dale Okorodudu
Panel Discussion: Community Leadership
Fighting Hunger – Mr. Dennis Cullinane
Linking Patients to Preventive Services Through the Emergency Department Visit – Dr. Mandy Hill
Grand Rounds – Population Substructure & Health Disparities: Insights from Biological Anthropology – Dr. Fatima Jackson