A little about his talk: Disability is regularly neglected in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, yet it is one demographic that we may all identify with one day. Therefore, disability should serve as a means of demonstrating that we are all much more similar than we are different. As a disabled, black, Nigerian immigrant, cis-gender, heterosexual, male, physician, athlete this presentation will talk about the intersectionality between all of those identities, striving to demonstrate that disability is not inability, and encouraging us to allow people to demonstrate what they can do, rather than attempting to limit them based on what they can’t.

A little about her talk: Unhealthy behaviors play a key contributing role for much of the diseases, suffering, and early deaths in the United States.  Meanwhile, those diseases and deaths continue to disproportionately harm certain groups (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, rural residents), healthcare costs are growing, and integration of behavioral medicine into clinical care continually lags behind medical advances. Therefore, we must be inclusive in our efforts to train and develop a diverse biomedical workforce and in our decision-making. We must be innovative in our efforts to identify and promote health solutions, especially to those with greater burden. We must continuously seek opportunities to influence policies and practices so they are evidence- and inclusion-based. This keynote will identify key internal and external challenges to our field in the quest to ensure better health for all.

A little about his talk: This keynote lecture provides an overview of the empirical evidence for the multiple ways in which institutional, cultural, and individual racism functions in society to erode access to opportunities and adversely affect health. Beyond traditional indicators of discrimination, it also describes race-related aspects of social experience that are harmful to health. The session will conclude by highlighting promising interventions to ameliorate racism’s harmful health effects and promote health equity.

Dr. David R. Williams is the Florence and Laura Norman Professor of Public Health and Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is also Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. His prior faculty appointments were at Yale University and the University of Michigan. He holds an MPH from Loma Linda University and a PhD in sociology from the University of Michigan.

The author of more than 500 scientific papers, his research has enhanced our understanding of the ways in which race, socioeconomic status, stress, racism, health behavior and religious involvement can affect physical and mental health. The Everyday Discrimination Scale that he developed is the most widely used measure of discrimination in health studies.

A little about her talk: This keynote lecture will overview Ms. Collins' work in the food industry, how her latest company, Planet FWD, is tackling climate change and the company’s approach to involving the larger population in its mission. She will also talk about creating a vision that addresses the biggest challenges facing society today.