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President Carlisle Joins Special CDC Panel
Dr . David Carlisle , CDU President and CEO , joined a special panel hosted by the U . S . Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) as part of their Historically Black College and Universities ( HBCU ) Week celebration .
“ Most of our institutions share the same sort of mission ,” said Dr . Carlisle . “ One thing we should really speak to , and the CDC had a major role here , is that the biggest problem with the American healthcare system is an absence of equity . If we can improve equity in healthcare in this country we can improve the level of health and wellbeing in this country dramatically .”
During the inaugural CDC National HBCU Week Recognition Program , the panel highlighted the impact of HBCUs and alumni on STEM fields , including public health , and recognized HBCUs and their graduates ’ historic and contemporary contributions to their fields as leaders and innovators .
Other panelists included , Brandon Nabors , Jackson State University graduate student , and Kailande Cassamajor , a recent graduate of Howard University . The goal of the panel , which was moderated by Dr . Donna Hubbard McCree , CDC Associate Director for Health Equity , was to increase understanding of the rich history and legacy of HBCUs and spark a discussion on current and future opportunities for partnership between the CDC and HBCUs .
Attendees were also able to hear from Dr . Rochelle Walensky , Director of the CDC and a Keynote Address from Dr . Dietra Trent , Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity , Excellence , and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( WHI-HBCUs ).
“ It ’ s my honor to join you in celebrating HBCU Week and recognizing the HBCU alumni who advance CDC ’ s mission to make the nation and indeed the world a healthier place ,” said Dr . Walensky .
The CDC also announced the launch of the HBCU Excellence at CDC website , the agency ’ s first website dedicated to highlighting the talent of CDC HBCU alumni to the public . The intent is that this site will serve as a template for other minority academic institutions and additional special interest groups as a new way to amplify inclusion around the agency and demonstrate diversity to our partners .