UAMS Arkansas Center for Health Disparities to Host Celebration Conference April 14-15

By Kev' Moye

The center — part of the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) — collaborates with community organizations to provide research-based solutions to the state’s health disparities.

According to Keneshia Bryant-Moore Ph.D., APRN, a professor in HBHE and organizer of the event, the conference has two main objectives:

  • Connect UAMS faculty, staff and students with community leaders.
  • Distribute the results of ARCHD research projects as strategies that can enhance the development and sustainability of campus-community partnerships.

The conference, which is free to attend, will take place at New Hope Baptist Church located at 1821 Edmonds St. in North Little Rock.

“The goal of our celebration conference is to not only share research results with the community but also to provide a space for community members to engage with researchers,” Bryant-Moore said. “In the process, bonds can be created and the established relationships between researchers and our partners can become even stronger.”

Day one of the conference begins at 9 a.m. Health care providers, students, community organizers, caregivers, faith leaders, social workers, researchers, stakeholders and members of the general public who have an interest in the research will receive the results of ARCHD-funded research.  There will also be a special recognition ceremony for ARCHD-community partners.

Individuals who want to attend the opening day of the conference can register by going to ARCHDConferenceDay1.eventbrite.com.

Meanwhile, day two is titled Self-Care Saturday and is also open to the general public. The activities, which begin at 9 a.m., will focus on mental and physical health. Activities will feature chair and restorative yoga, aerobics, mindfulness meditation, sound bath and a variety of health presentations. Also, various health screenings and vaccination opportunities will be available. Food, books and yoga mats will be provided free of charge. Bryant-Moore said that people have the option of participating in a specific class, or they can attend each of the classes and presentations.

Individuals interested in attending the conference on day two can register by going to ARCHDConferenceDay2.eventbrite.com.

“The second day of the conference is to provide an opportunity for everyone to come together and focus on self-care,” Bryant-Moore said.

For more information about the conference, contact Crystal Jones via email at CDJones@uams.edu.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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