UAMS to Hold Community Event Sept. 21 to Discuss Issues of Violence, Trauma Among Black Men
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will hold a Public Health Summit on Sept. 21 to discuss the issues of structural violence, community violence and trauma among Black men.
The event, which runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Philander Smith University, 900 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive in Little Rock, will explore the intersections of these health challenges as well as ideas for innovative, community-driven interventions.
UAMS preceptors and students will be on hand to offer a variety of health resources for attendees, including screenings for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, oxygen saturation, temperature and body mass index.
Joseph Richardson, Ph.D., MPower professor of African American studies, medical anthropology and epidemiology at the University of Maryland, will give a keynote speech on the topic of gun violence as a public health crisis. Tanya L. Sharpe, Ph.D., associate professor and Factor-Inwentash Chair in Social Work in the Global Community at the University of Toronto, will speak about men’s health, social determinants and the importance of screening to improve health outcomes.
“These are incredibly salient issues for health professionals and for communities as we try to close the equity gap in health outcomes and mortality rates,” said Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA, vice chancellor of the UAMS Division for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships. “Events like the Public Health Summit affirm UAMS’ commitment to improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans.”
The Public Health Summit is organized by the UAMS Division for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships in collaboration with the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, Philander Smith University and the Urban League of Arkansas.
The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. Those who wish to attend are asked to register at https://bit.ly/3Te7wJ0.
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.###