MLK Legacy Series examines civil rights through medical lens
Penn State College of Medicine’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging recently commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by hosting a group of events that explored civil rights from the perspective of medicine and public health.
Hosted in conjunction with the Penn State Health Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the MLK Legacy Series featured four opportunities for faculty, staff and students to learn about Dr. King’s vision for a world without inequities, from health disparities to social injustice.
“Continuing to shine a light on the injustices that still plague many members of our society, including in health care and education, is crucial to preserving Dr. King’s dream for a better world,” said Dr. Inginia Genao, vice dean of diversity, equity and belonging. “The College of Medicine’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging aims to empower our faculty, staff, trainees and students to take action toward achieving equity and justice for all.”
The series included a screening of “The First Wave,” an Emmy Award-winning National Geographic documentary that follows health care workers in a New York hospital system during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film, which also highlights inequities in health care, features Dr. Nathalie Dougé, a New York-based physician and 2014 graduate of the College of Medicine.
Dr. Dougé was also on campus for a special presentation and question-and-answer session as part of the MLK Day commemoration.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging organized a showcase of international graphic medicine comics on issues of social justice as well.
Rounding out the MLK Legacy Series was a presentation led by Dr. Benjamin Levi, professor of pediatrics and humanities, on how issues of social justice arise in the course of providing medical care. It included a general discussion of what justice involves, opportunities for promoting justice, and challenges that arise in the process of striving for justice.
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