EVMS hosted a series of community forums to discuss critical health topics in Hampton Roads in 2021. Discussions were targeted to a wide variety of audiences including patients, care providers, business leaders and noted researchers and leaders in healthcare.
Community Forums
Path Forward Listening Session
Members of the EVMS Board of Visitors spoke with community and business leaders from around Hampton Roads on March 30, as a part of the Path Forward listening series. The event was hosted by the Virginia Beach Interdenominational Ministers Conference and the local Urban League. EVMS was represented by BOV Rector Theresa Emory, MD, and BOV members Blythe Scott and Betty Bibbins, MD. The listening session was moderated by Pastor Francine Humphrey of Greater Thou Ministry and host of the Breathe Again Radio Show.
Building a Path Forward
On March 18, several members of the EVMS Board of Visitors held a listening session with members of the Hampton Roads Black Caucus, 200+ Men, the African American Round Table and Black BRAND. BOV Rector Theresa Emory, MD, and BOV members Blythe Scott and Betty Bibbins, MD, represented EVMS; the event was moderated by Hampton Roads native Phillip Jones. EVMS's representatives were excited to learn from the community and to continue building on the relationships built with the Path Forward program.
Exploring Health Disparities
EVMS partnered with Norfolk State University March 11th for a special listening session to hear from members of the Hampton Roads community on how to improve health and care throughout the region. Representing the medical community were: Cynthia Romero, MD (MD '93), Director of the EVMS M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health; Mekbib Gemeda, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at EVMS; and Cynthia Burwell, EdD, is a Professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science, and also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Minority Health Disparities.
What's in it for Hampton Roads?
Two titans in medicine joined EVMS and area colleges Feb. 24 to discuss the benefits of a collaborative academic medical center. Elias Zerhouni, MD, former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Victor Dzau, MD, President of the National Academy of Medicine, were featured sharing economic and health benefits. Also taking part were Provost and Dean of the School of Medicine, Richard V. Homan, MD; together with Norfolk State University President Javaune Adams-Gaston, PhD, and Old Dominion University President John Broderick, MS.
Forum discussing health disparities
EVMS hosted a forum Jan. 28 discussing health disparities. Community members submitted questions to a panel of Hampton Roads medical leaders. Topics included decreasing costs, addressing implicit bias and reaching out to underserved communities. Panelists included Richard V. Homan, MD, President and Provost of EVMS and Dean of the School of Medicine.