Health Justice at Upstate
In 2018, SUNY Upstate hosted its first diversity in medicine conference, entitled Health Justice at Upstate: Breaking Down Barriers. In 2019, this new tradition continued with Health Justice at Upstate: Shifting the Power, which garnered over 250 registrants. Health Justice 2020: Visions of Equity drew in even more participants.
The Time is Now: Action for Health Equity
On January 16, 2021, our first virtual conference will take a look at the accomplishments we have made and what we have to continue to fight for. Join us, as our goal this year is to educate and prepare our attendees in what is to come. As we’ve done in previous years, we will offer the Upstate community and beyond a set of workshops and lectures that aim to address and dissect the health disparities facing our nation. More often than not, these issues stem from our nation's history of discrimination and systemic racism and drive inequalities in many facets of daily life.
To learn more or to volunteer, please contact our conference co-chairs at hjcupstate@gmail.com.
From a 2018 participant:
"Going into healthcare, I almost feel immobilized because doctors don't normally seem to have much power in terms of creating change... The keynote speaker addressed all of these structural things and ongoing projects/research that are happening."
Registration for the 2021 conference will be open soon. Please check back here for more information or follow us on Facebook at Health Justice at Upstate for updates.
Monday, January 20, 2020
9:00AM - 4:10PM
Time | Session | Workshops |
9:00AM - 9:30AM | Registration & Check-In | |
9:30AM - 10:00AM | Breakfast | |
10:00AM - 10:20AM | Opening Address | |
10:20AM - 10:25AM | Break | |
10:25AM - 11:10AM | Session A | Native American Health |
Sickle Cell Disease and its Inequalities | ||
Over the BorderLine: Health Projections Living Undocumented | ||
Addressing Disparities with Universal Healthcare | ||
11:10AM - 11:15AM | Break | |
11:15AM - 12:00PM | Session B | Infant Mortality in Minority Women |
Preventing Gun Violence through Political Activism | ||
Increasing Minority Faculty and Students | ||
12:35PM - 1:30PM | Lunch - Exhibition Hall on 1st Floor of NAB | |
1:05PM - 2:05PM |
College of Medicine Sponsored Keynote Address Dr. Utibe R. Essien: Bending the Arc Toward Justice in Health |
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2:10PM - 2:55PM | Session C |
Bioethics, Social Responsibility, & Immigrant Health: |
Attaining Equity Through Abortion Access | ||
The Power to Organize: Political Action for Structural Determinants of Health |
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2:55PM - 3:00PM | Break | |
3:05PM - 3:50PM | Session D | Balancing Academics and Activism |
Building Your Path: On Getting into Medical School | ||
Balancing a Healthcare Career and Activism | ||
3:50PM - 4:10PM | Closing Remarks |
2021 speakers to be announced... check back soon!
Keynote Speakers of the Past
- 2018: Helena B. Hansen, MD, PhD: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine
- Asteir Bey, RN, IBCLC & Aimee Brill: Co-Directors, Village Birth International
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2020: Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH: Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine; Core Investigator, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Health Justice Scholars
Scholarships are available for current students below the graduate level. Awards will be based on demonstrated commitment to the health professions, racial equity in medicine, and the Syracuse community. If you would like to receive an email announcement when the 2020 Health Justice Scholars application is available, please contact our Conference Chairs (Robertha Barnes, Deashia McAlpine, and Azwade Rahman) at hjcupstate@gmail.com.
2019 Health Justice Scholars:
- Jazmine Richardson, Syracuse University
- Rosalia Sedano, Canisius College
Health Justice Advocate
The Health Justice Advocate award is given to a community leader who is not a health professional but utilizes a “health in all policies” approach to social justice issues in Syracuse, NY, including housing, transportation, and safety/violence prevention. SUNY Upstate Medical University's mission includes serving our community, but that wouldn't be possible without our many partners. This award recognizes their contributions to improving the state of public health in Syracuse.
2019 Health Justice Advocate
- Yusuf Abdul Qadir, Director of the Central New York chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union
2021 partners to be announced. If your community organization would like a display table at the 2021 conference, please contact our Conference Chairs at hjcupstate@gmail.com.
Tax-Deductible Gifts
Thank you for your interest in supporting the Health Justice at Upstate conference! All donations go through the Upstate Foundation to be used for Health Justice at Upstate expenditures, including the annual conference, scholarships for high school and undergraduate students, and establishing an endowed fund to ensure the program's sustainability.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Health Justice at Upstate fund, please visit the Upstate Foundation website, select the Designation "Other", and enter "Health Justice at Upstate."
If you have donated and do not see your name or department below, please contact Conference Chairs (Robertha Barnes, Deashia McAlpine, and Azwade Rahman) at hjcupstate@gmail.com. Thank you for your generosity.
Current and Past Sponsors
- Admissions Office
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities
- Center for Civic Engagement
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Health Professions
- College of Medicine
- Department of Medicine
- Family Medicine Student Organization
- Internal Medicine Interest Group
- Medical Alumni Association
- Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- Office of the President
- Student Affairs/Multicultural Affairs
- Student National Medical Association
- Students for a National Health Program
- Upstate Student Government