Topic: A panel discussing the state of health disparities and social determinants of health
Moderator: Sherrá McMillan Watkins, AVP, Student Health & Wellness
Panelists: Erica Baiden, attending physician Population Health Center, Intensive Outpatient Clinic, Vice President, Black Physicians of Utah
Brenda Heaton, associate dean, Research, associate professor, Epidemiology & Health Services Research, School of Dentistry
Heidi Iongi, director, Community Engagement and Clinical Integration, School of Dentistry
Gloria Slattum, research manager, Research Education Office, Department of Pediatrics

The “Day of Collective Action” (DoCA) is designed to offer the University of Utah’s campus community an opportunity to learn, reflect and find ways that each of us can work to build bridges of understanding that aid in building a sense of belonging for all members of the U collective. The DoCA is a Presidential initiative, launched in 2022 by the Presidential Commission on Equity and Belonging.

This year, the DoCA will be rooted in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) partnerships initiative at the U, exploring how strategic partnerships can build bridges of talent and excellence and provide insight into the unique position of the University of Utah in the area of HBCU/Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) bridge building.

The keynote speaker will be Marybeth Gasman. She is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education and the Associate Dean for Research in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. A Distinguished Professor, she also serves as the executive director of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and the executive director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.

In addition to exploring the role and impact of HBCUs in American higher education, industry and community; this year’s DoCA will also engage conversations in learning sessions targeting Health Equity (health disparities, social determinants of health, implicit bias; while bridging main campus with health sciences in the community); along with Social Responsibility and excellence through bridge building and strategic partnerships.