Penn State College of Medicine MLK commemoration features film, comics, discussions

The Penn State College of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity & Belonging and Penn State Health Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by hosting four educational events that explore civil rights from the perspective of medicine and public health.

Designed to honor King’s legacy and vision for a better world, the events include a film presentation, a showcase of international graphic medicine comics on issues of social justice and a presentation on the difficulties of promoting justice:

• “The First Wave”
  • Thursday, Jan. 16, 6–8:15 p.m.
  • College of Medicine Lecture Room C6616
  • This Emmy Award-winning National Geographic documentary details the lives of health care workers in a New York hospital system during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating health care inequities. Featured in the film is Dr. Nathalie Dougé, a 2014 Penn State College of Medicine graduate. Refreshments will be provided.
• Special Guest Presentation with Q&A by Natalie Dougé, MD
  • Friday, Jan. 17, noon–1 p.m.
  • University Conference Center
  • The board-certified internal medicine physician has been featured in such media as ABC’s Nightline, ABC’s Good Morning America and Fortune and Esquire magazines. Lunch will be provided.
  • The discussion includes a Zoom option (passcode: 189346).
• Graphic Medical Ethics: Issues of Social Justice in Comic Form
  • Thursday, Jan. 23, noon–1 p.m.
  • Junker Auditorium
  • Third-year medical students Edna Bonsu, Anne Pino, Grace Ryu, Hyelim Sim and Amber Vinluan, along with Kimberly Myers, PhD, professor of Humanities and Medicine, distinguished educator, at the College of Medicine, will review the intersection of medicine, diversity and ethics in three original comics set in Korea, Ghana and the Philippines. Lunch will be provided.
  • The discussion includes a Zoom option (passcode: 824678).
• Promoting Justice: Challenges in Reaching the Good Place
  • Friday, Jan. 24, noon–1 p.m.
  • Room C2860
  • Benjamin H. Levi, university professor of Humanities and professor, departments of Pediatrics and Humanities, will examine ways to overcome the challenges of reaching “the good place” in promoting justice during this Department of Humanities Grand Rounds event.
  • The event includes a Zoom option (passcode: 608534).

Continuing education credits are available for Penn State Health and College of Medicine employees. The diversity office will be providing Hershey Café vouchers to the first 50 in-person attendees.

Pamela Witt, director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives, can answer questions via email or by phone at 717-531-3033.

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