(WASHINGTON D.C. – April 12, 2024) The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, along with Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and other prominent health and policy leaders convened with over 100 members and affiliates of the National Medical Association (NMA) during their Quest for Health Justice Colloquium. The gathering addressed pressing health issues among Black physicians and the patients and communities they serve.
Dr. Yolanda Lawson, the NMA’s 124th president, had a fireside chat with the U.S. Surgeon General, where he discussed the importance of community in your individual healthcare journey, the barriers to health access amongst minority communities, the problematic disparities in Black maternal health—a timely conversation in lieu of Black Maternal Health Week this week, and more.
“I’m very proud of our profession and what we do each and every day,” said Dr. Murthy. “We have to close the gap in access to care for women who are pregnant – we need more OBGYNs, and they should be representative of the communities that we’re serving.”
Following their conversation, the NAACP’s Derrick Johnson delivered an engaging presentation to address the state of DEI in medical institutions and the far-reaching consequences of eliminating these programs.
“Today’s discussions underscore the urgent need for collaborative action to address the persistent health disparities facing Black physicians and communities,” Dr. Lawson said. “By recognizing the interconnectedness of individual health journeys and community well-being, we can drive meaningful change and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all.”
Additional remarks were provided by leaders such as Hon. Robert White, DC Councilman; Ayanna Bennett, M.D., MSPH, Director of the DC Department of Health; Leandris Liburd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., Acting Director of CDC’s Office of Health Equity; Thomas Mason, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health & Human Services; Christine S. Lee, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Acting Associate Commissioner for Minority Health and Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity; and more. Topics discussed during today’s sessions included the assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in medical schools, the challenge of accessing care for prostate cancer, food and nutrition security for optimal health, the disproportionate impact of chronic diseases on Black communities, and strategies to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The three-day event ends and will feature a diverse lineup of health discussions including DEI, voting, reproductive rights, tobacco, the state of the health care workforce and more.
The post PRESS ROOM: U.S. surgeon general and NAACP president, CEO address Black physicians at the National Medical Association Colloquium appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
