Race and Health Disparities Forum

Dr. Chanita Hughes-Halbert will deliver the keynote address for the Race and Health Disparities Forum on Friday, April 8 at 1:20 pm in 348 MLC. Her talk, Precision Medicine and Disparities: Using Behavioral Science to Enhance Equity, will be followed by a panel discussion of interdisciplinary scholars who study health disparities, and a networking reception at 3pm in the MLC North Tower.  The event is presented by the Center for Research & Engagement in Diversity, a program of the Franklin College.

The goal of Dr. Hughes-Halbert’s research program is to identify sociocultural, psychological, genetic, and environmental determinants of cancer health disparities and to translate this information into sustainable interventions in clinic and community-based settings to improve cancer outcomes in racially and ethnically diverse populations. Hughes-Halbert is the AT&T Distingished Endowed Chair in Cancer Equity and professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate dean for Assessment and Evaluation at the Medical University of South Carolina.

A nationally recognized expert in cancer prevention and control among diverse populations, her research is supported by numerous grants from the National Cancer Institute, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. She is a member of the Board of Scientific Advisors at the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute Advisory Council.

This event is free and open to the public and should be a must for our many students training for a future in the medical profession, as well as faculty across the biological sciences disciplines. The nature of her approach opens the subject to an even wider potential audience. It is a great honor for the college to host this renowned scholar on campus to share her insights. Broadening our understanding about racial disparities in medicine and treatments is a vital step in creating a more just and healthier society.

Image of Dr. Hughes-Halbert via MUSC.