The mission of the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center (MHHERC) at Dillard University is to take a comprehensive approach to advancing research across disciplinary areas, promote collaboration throughout the scientific community, and improve the overall quality of health for racial and ethnic minorities. The Beacon is the official newsletter of the MHHERC.

Left to Right: Panelists for Say Anarcha: Understanding How Her Legacy Impacts Women's Reproductive Health Today-J.C. Hallman, Dr. Ene George, Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, Ms. Kaylan A. Tanner, Ms. Raven Ford, Ms. Davondra L. Brown (Moderator)

On the evening of November 14, 2023, the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center (MHHERC) hosted its second Lecture Series that delved into the complex legacy of Dr. J. Marion Sims, a celebrated figure with statues erected in his honor and hailed as the eminent "father of modern gynecology." Dr. Sims built a hospital in New York City and treated the elite and royalty in Europe, however, beneath the facade of heroism was a darker truth that revealed his acclaimed medical breakthrough treating obstetric fistulas resulted from years of experimental surgeries -- conducted without anesthesia, on Anarcha, a young enslaved woman.

Despite limited knowledge about Anarcha's life, author JC Hallman and Lecture Series speaker, detailed how his tenacious research uncovered Anarcha's post-experimentation life as a midwife, nurse, and "doctor woman," contributing to a patient-centered model of care that continues to benefit women today. While medical texts praised Anarcha as the embodiment of Sims's pivotal role in surgical history, a later movement contested this legacy and began celebrating Anarcha as the "mother of gynecology."

The lecture and panel discussion, held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in Georges Auditorium, captivated the audience with Hallman's revelations, which also included the discovery that Dillard University President, Dr. Rochelle Ford, was a direct descendant of Anarcha through her maternal lineage. Other panelists included: Dr. Ene George (Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist), Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell (OB-GYN and associate professor for Ochsner Health), Kaylan Tanner ‘21 (Reproductive Justice Activist) and Raven Ford (Daughter of DU President and Descendant of Anarcha).

Anarcha's story resonated with the MHHERC's mission, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the past to shape a more equitable healthcare future. The event culminated with a book-signing session, providing attendees an opportunity to engage more with the author and panelists.



To view the Livestream Link click here (start at the 26-minute mark). To view pictures from the event, click here.

The fruits of a longstanding partnership between Virginia Tech and the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center have manifested in the form a $380,000 National Science Foundation grant to address issues of environmental justice. Dr. Amy Lesen, MHHERC Associate Professor, will work with Dr. Barbara Allen with Virginia Tech, and Dr. Alison Cohen with the University of California at San Francisco. The project supports residents living in Louisiana's many polluted industrial regions to use government data to document and examine patterns of health and well-being in their communities. Using health data from government agencies (e.g., cancer registries, Medicaid) enables community members to answer some of the questions they may have about illness in relation to the places they live.

By working with residents in collaborative workshops to analyze and interpret official data, the residents’ own insights about their health and environment will augment the science they are co-producing. The scientific reports produced from these public workshops can be used by residents to support their health claims toward effecting change and perhaps more importantly, serve as a catalyst for environmental change in petrochemical regions.

The project will be based at Dillard University and led by Dr. Amy Lesen and her collaborative partners. They will work to build researcher, community, and institutional capacity to continue collaborative science work on environmental health justice and health equity beyond the project. This collaborative data analysis process can be replicated with many kinds of data and a variety of community questions not only in Louisiana but across the U.S.

The final project deliverable will be an online manual detailing how residents in other states or regions can replicate this process to produce their own data analyses from government sources.

The MHHERC will begin advertising in January to hire a 2-year epidemiology postdoctoral associate to start in summer of 2024. The center also plans to hire a part-time project manager to start in the fall of 2024. For more information, please email Dr. Amy Lesen at alesen@dillard.edu.

Panelists Top Row: Jazlynn Taylor, MPH Student (Tulane University), Dr. Chanell Haley, Postdoctoral Fellow (Tulane University), Genesis Grinston, Public Health student (Xavier University), Stephanie Marshall, Executive Director (DePaul), Cymone Winters, Public Health student (Dillard University), Dr. Charlotte S. Hurst, Professor (Dillard University).

Bottom Row: Dr. Billie Castle, Public Health Sciences Assistant Professor (Xavier University), Dr. Corey Hebert,Chief Medical Officer (Dillard University), Deborah Frazier, CEO (National Healthy Start), Meshawn Siddiq, Deputy Director (New Orleans Health Department).

MHHERC partnered with Tulane University, Xavier University, DePaul Community Health Center and Reproductive Health Impact to host The Birthing Justice Documentary Screening and Conversation during Black Breastfeeding Week in August. The screening was attended by students and staff members from various universities, health care professionals, advocates and other interested individuals. Attendees received T-shirts commemorating the event touting the slogan, “Support Black Breastfeeding” as a call to action and advocacy.

After the screening a panel discussion held and moderated by Ms. Deborah Frazier, CEO of the National Healthy Start program, and Dr. Corey Hebert,Chief Medical Officer for Dillard University. The panel, composed of healthcare workers, faculty and students, offered reasons why the Black infant & maternal health crisis is so dire in the United States. Panelists also discussed solutions to eradicate the crisis including enhanced training for providers, education for patients and the responsibility of current and future health care workers and advocates. 

This event was planned and executed by a multi-organization committee led by Dr. Michelle R. Smith (Dillard University), Other members included Dr. Tyra T. Gross, Public Health Sciences Associate Professor (Xavier University), Mrs. Stephanie Marshall, Executive Director (DePaul Community Health Centers), Dr. Rachael N. Reed, School of Population and Health Sciences Chair (Dillard University), and Danielle L. Matthews, Culture Shift & Strategic Communications Manager (RH Impact), 

“RH Impact was honored to partner with these wonderful universities and organizations to coordinate this much needed event,” said Danielle L. Matthews '05. "As advocates for all things reproductive health, equity and justice related, we endeavor to create opportunities for conversations centering equity across the reproductive sphere and beyond. Conversations like these, help to change the narrative and empower our communities to fight for equality in every area, because we deserve it." 

To see pictures of the screening and conversation, go here.

Did you graduate from Dillard with a Major in Biology, Chemistry, Health Science, Healthcare Advocacy (Minor Only), Health Science, Physics, Psychology, or Public Health? OR...are you a physician, dentist, physical therapist, physician assistant, podiatrist, public health professional, healthcare administrator, veterinarian, athletic trainer, chiropractor, optometrist, biologist, chemist, mental health professional, or pharmacist? 

If yes, please join the Pre-Health Alumni/Student Mentoring Program where you can share your professional expertise, educational obstacles, personal triumphs and offer advice to current students who have similar career aspirations. 

Mentees and mentors will be matched by criteria and responses from their questionnaire that will be mutually beneficial to both participants. If interested in becoming a mentor, click here.

Camara P. Jones, MD, PhD, MPH, distinguished physician, epidemiologist and public health leader, talks with students during a special meet-and-greet at the President's House.

On Monday, October 2, 2023, a small group of Dillard students met with Dr Camara Jones, The intimate gathering was hosted by The Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center & The Center for Racial Justice. Dr. Jones is a renowned for her tireless dedication to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. With a career spanning several decades, Dr. Jones has made significant contributions to the field of public health through her research, advocacy, and leadership roles. She served as the President of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and has held various positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Jones is most known for her work on the social determinants of health and her development of the "Gardener's Tale" allegory, which has become a powerful tool for explaining structural racism's impact on health. Her commitment to advancing racial and social justice in healthcare and public health has earned her widespread recognition and respect within the field, making her a beacon of inspiration for those striving for a more equitable and just society.

While president of APHA, Dr. Jones spearheaded efforts that led to the first declaration of racism as a public health crisis, which was passed in 2018 by the Wisconsin Public Health Association. Since then, over 260 cities, counties, public health agencies and academic institutions have declared racism a public health crisis and have committed resources to dismantling the systems that have reinforced health inequity, replacing them with more equitable policies, practices and allocation of resources.

To view the photo album from the event, click here.

Dr. Hanifah Muhammad shared her professional journey with Pre-Health students on Friday, September 22, 2023. Trained as a naturopathic doctor, Dr. Muhammad also received her Master’s in Public Health and is currently training to be a midwife. She shared with students how pursuing additional degrees and certifications gave her a more holistic appreciation of women’s health, childbirth, and the early days of caring for families after birth. Curating her dream career through clinical practice and lifelong learning has given Dr. Muhammad a robust array of approaches for promoting health in the communities she serves.

To view pictures from the talk, click here. If you are a health care professional and would like to share your career with Dillard students, please contact Ms. Latricia Tillman at ltillman@dillard.edu or 504-816-5702.

Dillard University alumnus and Dermatologist Dr. Byron Knowles plans to start an annual scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center for a junior who is interested in doing research. Dr. Knowles and his wife are starting the scholarship fund as a way to give back. He said they are both first time physicians and the only people in their families that have become doctors. Dr. Knowles started a similar fund first in the church he previously attended near his home in the Bahamas and then at his former high school.

"When you do become a little bit more comfortable, it's good to not forget," Knowles said. "Nobody does it by themselves." Dr. Knowles said he was visiting Dillard's campus in April 2023 and he described Dillard as a safe education space he fondly remembered.

"Kids actually get to be a kid at Dillard University," Dr. Knowles said. "It's true for kids that are not Black at Dillard as well. "Everyone at historically black colleges gets treated the same, and you go to other places, and it's not true."

Dr. Knowles graduated from Dillard University in 2008 with a Biology and Chemistry double major and a minor in Mathematics. Knowles also completed research part time. He then attended Vanderbilt University for his Medical Scientist Training Program and dual degree program, followed by a residency at UCLA and UCFF. He finished his residency at UCFF and taught medical students and residents Dermatology, like how to see patients and how to do diagnostics. “I thought [Dillard] would be a much easier and much more comfortable place to complete undergrad without having to think about the dynamics of being around people that don’t quite look like me,"

This year marks Dr. Knowles' first year of private practice as a Dermatologist. He is now working at Center Gold in Augusto California.

“Patients want to see you obviously, but I think what they’re really looking for is connection," Knowles said.

Dr. Knowles said that his time at Dillard University helped him to be comfortable in his own skin more than anything. "If you’re not comfortable having normal conversations with people, it makes your life and job harder. That's what being a doctor is, seeing people from all walks of life."

David Durotoye is a junior Biology major with a minor in Chemistry. He is originally from Nigeria and lives with his family in New York. His career goal is to be a physician scientist so he can treat patients and still work in a lab.

In the summer of Durotoye's freshman year, he was involved in the Yale Summer Enrichment Medical Academy. The following summer, he attended the Medical Scientist Training Program at The University of Wisconsin where he helped work on developing a diagnostic method for prenatal zika virus infection. He also learned how to perform an ELISpot assay, which is used to assess immune responses. Additionally he gained professional development skills and learned how to perform a western blot test, which is a technique used to confirm a positive HIV diagnosis.

Durotoye was also involved in the innovation firm Techplug last semester, where he helped conduct maternal research alongside fellow students. He currently participates in the American Heart Association HBCU Scholars Program, which is designed to increase the number of Black students who can compete successfully for acceptance and matriculation into graduate programs leading to professional degrees in the biomedical and health sciences. Scholars learn about the impact of cardiovascular disease on their communities, participate in valuable cardiovascular-related research projects and explore varied career opportunities.

At Dillard, Durotoye serves as president of the MAPS (Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students) group. He disseminates information about resources, coordinates events, and cultivates relationships with potential partners.

"Something I've recently been working on is a mentoring program for the members of MAPS with Tulane," Durotoye said.

Durotoye has always wanted to pursue a career in medicine and is leaning towards a specialty in neurosurgery. He recently received the BeyGOOD scholarship created by Beyonce Knowles in the amount of $10,000 and the Dr. Byron Knowles Outstanding Pre-Health Program Junior Award in the amount of $1,000.

Dillard University

Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center

2601 Gentilly Blvd

PSB - Suite 307

New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

504.816.4001