Race, Racism and Health

Understanding the Health Consequences of Racism and What You Can Do About It

On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, Lakeland Health will welcome Dr. David R. Williams to Andrews University to speak as part of the Community Grand Rounds series at the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. The event will take place from 6:15–7:45 p.m.

The Community Grand Rounds series is Lakeland’s three-year educational speaker series focusing on the impact of racial discrimination on the health of African Americans and on health inequities. It is a collaborative effort between Lakeland Health and The Todman Family Foundation and is designed for professionals in medicine, allied health fields, social work, government leaders and community members.

In addition to the Lakeland medical staff, this event is open to Andrews University students, faculty and staff. All attendees must pre-register online at this link.

Williams is the Norman Professor of Public Health and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. Previously he taught at Yale University and the University of Michigan. The author of over 400 scientific articles, his research focuses on social influences on health. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has been ranked as the Most Cited Black Scholar in the Social Sciences in the world and as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds. He holds a BTh from University of the Southern Caribbean, an MDiv from Andrews University, an MPH from Loma Linda University, and an MA and PhD in sociology from the University of Michigan.

In addition to speaking about the biological effects of exposure to racial discrimination, Williams will provide examples of what clinicians, health systems, municipal leaders and others can do to address this problem.

Michael Nixon, vice president for Diversity & Inclusion at Andrews University, says, “I am delighted that Lakeland Health is hosting this installment of the vitally important Community Grand Rounds on Race, Racism and Health on our campus. As we continue striving to develop world changers here at Andrews, it is important that we also understand the unique effects and challenges that members of certain races have been forced to wrestle with due to the ills of racism.”

Curtis VanderWaal, chair and professor of social work and director of the Center for Community Impact Research at the Institute for Prevention of Addictions, shares his response toward the program and speaker. “We are indebted to Dr. Williams for not only his research but also the practical examples that he will share to help clinicians, school administrators, health systems, municipal leaders and everyday citizens address this problem directly.”

For more information about the Community Grand Rounds series and health inequities in Southwest Michigan, please click here. To read more about The Todman Family Foundation’s involvement in creating this series, click here.