The symposium is sponsored by the COPPS Center for Health
Equity. The event is designed to identify the most common diseases associated
with health inequities nationally; discuss factors that contribute to the poor
health equality in the United States; discuss differences in various disease
prevalence, morbidity and mortality between majority and minority populations;
identify and discuss national programs designed to address and reduce health
inequalities in the United States; and discuss the role of pharmacists,
physicians, nurses, mental health workers and others in improving health.
The symposium will feature renowned presenters such as Faye
Zollicoffer Belgrave, Ph.D., author of “African-American Psychology from Africa
to America.” Belgrave is the director and founder of the Center for Cultural
Experiences in Prevention housed in the Department of Psychology at Virginia
Commonwealth University.
John Hoberman, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will also make a presentation during the symposium’s banquet. Hoberman is the author of “BLACK & BLUE: The Origins and Consequences of Medical Racism.”
“FAMU is in a unique position to address issues related to
health disparities in underserved populations. Our goal is to disseminate meaningful
information to enhance patient care activities provided by all members of the
health care team,” said Michael D. Thompson, Pharm.D., FAMU COPPS dean and
professor.
The Center for Health Equity was developed to further the
COPPS mission by improving the health care of medically underserved populations
through research, education, community intervention and service.