Asheville African American Health Symposium

According to the January 2020, Healthy North Carolina 2030 Report, there are stark disparities in life expectancy across race, geography, and gender, as well as intersections of these characteristics that show wide gaps between groups.

The disparities for African Americans compared to whites are due in part to issues stemming from limited healthcare access, lack of trust in medical professionals, and social and economic factors like racism and unemployment. Racial disparities are unremitting and widespread within the African American population. The causes are multifactoral—including historical oppression, implicit bias against African American patients, community mistrust, and lack of diversity within the healthcare field, to name a few.

The goal of this Webinar Series and Symposium is to have healthcare providers apply learned evidence-based strategies from African American healthcare leaders across the nation in order to continue to improve the health of African Americans.

This conference will increase your knowledge and awareness of racism as a healthcare crisis and analyze healthcare disparities affecting our black communities and examine the causes of these disparities, including implicit bias of providers, historical trauma of African Americans, and lack of diversity within the healthcare workforce.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Kimberlyn R. Leary, PhD, MPA. Dr. Leary was an advisor to the Obama White House launching the Advancing Equity initiative for the Council on Women and Girls. She was also an advisor to the health division at White House Office of Management and Budget and senior policy advisor to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Leary served on the Biden-Harris transition team as a volunteer part-time member of the Agency Review Team for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Most recently, Leary completed a one-year IPA with the Biden White House, serving as a senior equity fellow for the Office of Management and Budget and as a senior policy advisor to the Domestic Policy Council.

Dr. William “Bill” Gist was dedicated and committed to creating an equitable and inclusive place to work, learn, and receive care as the MAHEC OB/GYN Residency Program Director.

In honor of Dr. Gist, the Gist Leadership Award will be presented to a MAHEC employee who exemplifies the qualities Dr. Gist offered to our organization and community. This special award will be presented each year as we continue to celebrate and honor the work and memory of Dr. Gist.

The 2nd Annual Asheville African American Health Symposium & Webinar Series takes place Friday & Saturday, November 11 & 12, 2022. The in-person event takes place at Mountain Area Health Education Center, 121 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Or, you can register to attend the live webinar.

To register, go to www.avlaahs.net.