Black History Month | The Black Experience at UVA Health: Empowering Black Health and Wellness

“Sankofa” is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana, the literal translation of the word and symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” UVA Health is committed to explore The Black Experience at UVA Health and “go back” to retrieve, restore, and reconcile what is at risk of being left behind. As we acknowledge, bring awareness and celebrate Black History Month, we are dedicated to the empowerment of Black Health and Wellness as we embrace One Future Together. UVA Health is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events, including a discussion of the history of race at UVA Medical Center, an historical tour of UVA Health, a health disparities conference, a concert, community engagement, and more. (See below for a list of events.)

Why does Black History Month occur in February? The relevance of February goes back to 1926, when the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's (ASALH) founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson first established “Negro History Week” during the second week of February. And why that week? Because it encompasses the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass — both men being great American symbols of freedom. However, Woodson never confined Negro History to a week. His life’s work and the mission of ASALH since its founding in 1915 represents a living testimony to the year-round and year-after-year study of African American history.

ASALH’s mission is to “promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.” Having established a theme every year since 1928, this year’s theme is focused on Black Health and Wellness. The theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.

Tuesday, Feb. 1
Introduction to Theme and Upcoming Events
Sankofa: The Black Experience at UVA Health
Empowering Black Health and Wellness

Noon-1 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required | Zoom | Facilitated by Melody M. Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement

Thursday, Feb. 3
The History of Race at the UVA Medical Center: 1901-2000

Virtual Tour: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Registration Required | Zoom | Facilitated by Dan Cavanaugh, Curator of Historical Collections

The Curator of Historical Collections at the Health Sciences Library, Dan Cavanaugh, will lead a one-hour tour of the Medical Center’s West Complex, where he will present significant developments in the history of race at the UVA Medical Center between 1901 and 2000. Dan Cavanaugh will briefly touch upon the following historical developments in the spaces where they occurred: patient segregation, discriminatory health care, labor discrimination, race science research, civil rights activism, IDEA initiatives, and urban renewal projects. We hope that the tour will help participants understand how historical developments might continue to influence UVA Health and the organization’s relationship with the surrounding Charlottesville/Albemarle community."

Friday, Feb. 4
UVA Health Historical Tour: Cultivating A Trauma Informed Response

Virtual Discussion: noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Zoom | Co-Facilitated by Melody M. Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement and Nadine Michel

As participants explore and experience the history of race at UVA Medical Center, it is imperative that we also resource administration, staff, students and community members to develop the capacity to prepare, process, perceive and plan for utilizing this information in a manner that is empathic, educational and empowering as we seek to create our one future together. A restorative justice “circle process” will be utilized.

The Diversity and Community Engagement Office will create a toolkit to support the effectiveness of this experiential learning tour with a vision to engage with different cohorts through critical thinking, reflective dialogues and purposeful activities that build a sense of belonging, encourage agency and support positive action.

As we strive to “look back to move forward” (Sankofa), may this experiential historical learning tour teach us how utilize this knowledge to heal our wounds and reconcile our past to achieve our mission “to provide excellence, innovation and superlative quality in the care of patients, the training of health professionals, and the creation and sharing of health knowledge within a culture that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusiveness.”

Tuesday, Feb. 8
The 2022 UVA Health Disparities Conference:
Why We Can’t Wait, Healthcare Justice for All

(Registration is now closed.)

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (hybrid) | Registration Required | Keynote Speaker: Dr. Pérez-Stable

Sponsored by the UVA MSTP Diversity Committee, SNMA, and the MLK Celebration Planning Committee, the conference will feature UVA faculty, residents, and students doing clinical, educational, and community projects addressing health inequity and social determinants of health through oral presentations and breakout room sessions. The keynote will be given by Dr. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include a presentation and a Q&A session. The conference will be hybrid (virtual and in-person options) and is open to all trainees, faculty, and staff. The sessions will be recorded and made available later for viewing. Lunch is included for participants that register in advance. Please register using this link.

Tuesday, Feb. 8
The Black Tax in Healthcare: How racial identity impacts healthcare outcomes

7-8 p.m. (virtual | Registration Required

The evidence is clear, African Americans tend to be far less healthy than their Caucasian counterparts. In fact, the health differences between Black and white communities are vast as evidenced most recently by the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on both of these communities. Clearly, racial identity plays a significant role in individual and community health outcomes in our nation.

But though racial identity is a significant correlative factor, is the reason for these healthcare disparities biological, genetic, or much more closely affiliated with environmental factors? In this regard, is being treated as Black in America a preexisting condition that can foster poorer health outcomes? Please join a conversation with Rev. Dr. Shakira Sanchez-Collins with Northwestern Medicine and St. James AME Church in Chicago and Dr. Augustus Parker with Novant Health as we seek to get to the root of persistent inequalities in health in America and begin to offer ways of closing the healthcare gap.

Co-sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary's Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation and Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership.

Wednesday, Feb. 9
A Three Part Virtual Health Equity Series

Part I: Health Equity Series: Racism is a Public Health Crisis - YouTube
Part II: Health Equity Series: Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health - YouTube
Part III: Health Equity Series: Addressing Structural and Systemic Change to Advance Health Equity - YouTube

Friday, Feb. 11
The Black History Month Concert

Hosted by University of Virginia Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 6:30pm

The Black History Month Concert will feature the Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award-winning gospel group Anthony Brown & group therAPy, with a special performance by Stellar Award-Winning artist Isabel Davis. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. (Directions: Register an account with Paramount. Select quantity of tickets. Click purchase. Ignore the cart checkout box requesting a promotion code. Follow prompts to check out. Print the tickets or save on mobile device to be scanned at the door.)

This concert is presented in partnership with the UVA Office of African American Affairs, Total Praise with Chucky Hayes on 101.3 JAMZ, In My Humble Opinion on 101.3 JAMZ, the UVA Black Faculty & Staff Employee Resource Group, Black Professional Network of Charlottesville, and Strong Quality Music.

Thursday, Feb. 10
Racialized Trauma
Cultural Somatics Training Institute Free, Five-Session ECourse

Registration Required | Resmaa Menakem, author of 101 Tips for Emerging Justice Leaders, Rock the Boat, and My Grandmother's Hands: How to Heal Racialized Trauma in our Minds and our Bodies, leads a course designed to help people begin to confront the ideas revolving around racialized trauma, the impact of it, and how it begins to move through generations.

Saturday, Feb. 12
Community Engagement and Partnership Event

2 p.m.-4 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required

The Charlottesville Coming to the Table Local Affiliate Group monthly Zoom meeting is a special event with the White Feather Historical Project to celebrate Black History Month featuring the documentary "And Still I Rise" about the life and contributions of Maya Angelou. A group discussion will follow facilitated by Rev. Patricia Jones-Turner. Please join us for this special event. To receive the Zoom link, please RSVP to comingtothetablecville@gmail.com.

Learn more about Coming to the Table.

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Ubuntu Healing Circle

Noon-1 p.m. | Tuesdays, Starting Feb. 15 | Registration Required | Community Health Network hosts an Ubuntu Healing Circle: An Emotional Lunch Break | The table is prepared. Come heal and be rejuvenated.

Thursday, Feb. 17
The History of Race at The UVA Medical Center: 1901-2000

Virtual Tour: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Registration Required | Dan Cavanaugh, Curator of Historical Collections

The Curator of Historical Collections at the Health Sciences Library, Dan Cavanaugh, will lead a one-hour tour of the Medical Center’s West Complex, where he will present significant developments in the history of race at the UVA Medical Center between 1901 and 2000. Dan Cavanaugh will briefly touch upon the following historical developments in the spaces where they occurred: patient segregation, discriminatory health care, labor discrimination, race science research, civil rights activism, IDEA initiatives, and urban renewal projects. We hope that the tour will help participants understand how historical developments might continue to influence UVA Health and the organization’s relationship with the surrounding Charlottesville/Albemarle community."

Friday, Feb. 18
UVA Health Historical Tour: Cultivating a Trauma Informed Response

Virtual Discussion: noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Facilitated by Melody M. Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement

As participants explore and experience the history of race at UVA Medical Center, it is imperative that we also resource administration, staff, students and community members to develop the capacity to prepare, process, perceive and plan for utilizing this information in a manner that is empathic, educational and empowering as we seek to create our one future together. A restorative justice “circle process” will be utilized.

The Diversity and Community Engagement Office will create a toolkit to support the effectiveness of this experiential learning tour with a vision to engage with different cohorts through critical thinking, reflective dialogues and purposeful activities that build a sense of belonging, encourage agency and support positive action.

As we strive to “look back to move forward” (Sankofa), may this experiential historical learning tour teach us how utilize this knowledge to heal our wounds and reconcile our past to achieve our mission “to provide excellence, innovation and superlative quality in the care of patients, the training of health professionals, and the creation and sharing of health knowledge within a culture that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusiveness.”

Monday, Feb. 21
The Black Experience at UVA Health:
Resources at The Health Science Library

Noon-1 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required | Honoring Dr. William M. Womack. Black Experiences at UVA Health Historical Resource Guide. Facilitated by the Health Science Library staff: Bart Ragon, Associate Director for Knowledge Integration, Research and Technology; Dan Cavanaugh, Curator of Historical Collections; and Kimberley Barker, Librarian for Digital Life.

Feb. 21-23
Free Screening: Black Men in White Coats

Monday, Feb. 21-Wednesday, Feb. 23 | Limited availability | Registration required | The UVA Health Office of Diversity & Community Engagement, the School of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) have partnered with Dr. Dale Okorodudu of DiverseMedicine.com and Indiescreening.com to present the documentary, Black Men in White Coats. Upon registering, you will receive a viewing code, which can be used only once. The film will be available at the following times:

Monday, Feb. 21 | starting at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 | all day
Wednesday, Feb. 23 | ending at 6 p.m.

A roundtable Q&A session for the film will be held 6-7 p.m. on Feb. 23. Register for the Q&A session.

Tuesday, Feb. 22
Black Health and Wellness
The Virtual Radical Self-Care Wellness Experience
Black Men and Mental Health

11 a.m.-noon | Registration Required | Featuring local panel members Demarcus Merritt, Sr., UVA Assistant Dean of Students and Leon Henry, UVA Interim Social Work Manager.

Tuesday, Feb. 22
Growing up in Charlottesville: A Community Conversation

4 p.m.-5 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required

Monday, Feb. 28
A Student Spotlight: UVA History: From a Black Perspective

Noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Nadine Michel, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Student is helping ensure that the University of Virginia’s past is more completely known and serves to educate us and inform our decisions for a better future, by creating the interactive timeline, “UVA History: From a Black Perspective.”

Resources from the Health Sciences Library

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