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SIU School of Medicine expands Kenniebrew events
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Each February SIU School of Medicine hosts a series of events to honor Dr. Alonzo Kenniebrew, the first Black physician in the United States to build and operate a private surgical hospital. The 2023 Kenniebrew Lecture and Forum has expanded to include an all-day medical conference on Friday, February 17.
“Dr. Kenniebrew was a trailblazer and humanitarian in the region, and we need to continue his work of fighting inequities and of building systems that better serve our community,” said Wendi Wills El-Amin, MD, associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion at SIU School of Medicine. “It is clear that there is still much work to do.”
Ann-Gel Palermo, DrPH, will be the featured speaker and visiting professor for the week. Dr. Palermo is the senior associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mt. Sinai. She will deliver the Kenniebrew Lecture at 5:30 - 7 p.m. Thursday, February 16, entitled ‘Awareness to Action: Reimagining Strategies to Achieve Health Equity.’
The inaugural Kenniebrew Medical Conference will be held the following day. Centered on the theme of ‘The Hope and Promise of Co-Liberation Work,’ it will feature opening and closing plenary speakers, a panel lunch discussion and numerous breakout sessions. More information and conference registration can be found at siumed.edu/events/2023-kenniebrew-conference.
The Kenniebrew Forum will be hosted Saturday morning, and will provide an opportunity for community members to have an open conversation about trust, race and health. These topics are again prominent in Springfield as we collectively process and mourn Earl Moore Jr.’s tragic death while in the care of EMT workers. The forum begins at 9 a.m., February 18, at the Memorial Learning Center. Area activists, social service providers and the general public are invited to attend.
The lecture and forum are open to the general public. To register for the conference, visit siumed.edu/cpd. To register for the lecture or community forum, email siumed-edi@siumed.edu. HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Memorial Health System and the SIU Foundation are underwriting the cost of the annual forum.
