Category: promoting health equity
July Observances Celebrate Independence and Inspire Peace Among Different Individuals and Cultures
July Observances July 4: Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July), is a US federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The original 13 American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America. July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day, … Read more
Department of Medicine Commemorates Juneteenth
The UNC Department of Medicine encourages the community to learn and reflect on the significance of Juneteenth (June 19), and to consider how we can work together to make our community more inclusive and equitable. (Following is a historical overview, published June 18, 2020.) Credit: PBS What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end … Read more
Caribbean-American Heritage, LGBTQ Pride and Juneteenth
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month – Our Shared History, Our Shared Future Credit: US Census Bureau This June marks the 13th National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The theme for this year is “Our Shared History, Our Shared Future.” The commemoration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month reminds Americans that our greatness lies in our diversity. Caribbean immigrants f … Read more
Cultural, Historical and Religious Observances in May
Photograph of First Transcontinental Railroad, circa 1869. Credit: Time.com (Fotosearch—Getty Images) May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. … Read more
All Hands On Deck: How GIM is Working to Recognize and Address Racism, to Bring Cultural and Structural Change
An anti-racism task force is working to create opportunities that will respond to the needs of staff in the division of general medicine following a series of anti-racism forums and surveys. “Hopefully, this can inspire others in the department of medicine to work toward similar activities and believe that it can be done, and done well, despite the COVID restraints we have,” said … Read more
Why Should Black Women Participate in Research?
A new UNC Health video encourages Black women to participate in research and features Ada Adimora, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases. Other featured women include Geraldine Bradshaw, principal of the Institute for the Development of Young Leaders, Alicia Diggs, Office of Community Engagement manager for the Center for AIDS research (CFAR), and … Read more
Women’s History Month, Other Observances
March is Women’s History Month Women’s History Month started in 1987 and recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations to recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. Learn how women’s history progressed at UNC, her … Read more
Days of Commemoration and Celebrating Black History Month
January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day UNC’s 2021 MLK Jr. Celebration included a campus-wide initiative to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his legacy and his ideals. Carolina began its celebrations of King’s life and legacy long before there was a federal holiday. In fact, UNC is the only university ever awarded the “Making of the King Holiday Award” by the former MLK Feder … Read more
‘A Little Skeptical:’ Black People Make Up Shrinking Share of COVID-19 Cases in NC – But Is That Stat Deceptive?
Crystal Cené, MD, MPH A news report on a CBS17.com data analysis found that black people in North Carolina have accounted for a shrinking share of the total number of VOID-19 cases over the past few months. But while on the surface that seems like a positive development for a community hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic, experts say there are still plenty of reasons for … Read more
‘Why I’m still alive’: A Patient’s Gratitude, Two Decades Later, Expressed To Dr. Becky White
From left: Shani Morgan, Becky White, MD, and Shani’s son, Shakir In the summer of 2001, Shani Morgan was a few months pregnant and in prison, where she learned that she had HIV. She’d been sent from jail to Bragg Street Women’s Prison in Raleigh for better monitoring and medical treatment. What she remembers most about being treated by her UNC doctor, Becky White, MD, MPH, for H … Read more
Carolina to Celebrate MLK Day with Lecture, Banquet
The University will begin its commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17 with an annual banquet and awards presentation. The celebrations will conclude a week later with a lecture led by the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network. (University Communications, Thursday, January 14th, 2021) (Adobe Stock image) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill … Read more
Disability Awareness and December Days of Observance
Disability Awareness People with disabilities represent a diverse group with a wide range of needs, and some of these are not easy to see. Disparities abound in this population, from access to health care to education and employment. Many people with disabilities also have underlying health needs that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Unfortunately, people with disab … Read more