This conference is the largest and longest-running student-led health conference in the United States.
Ten students majoring in public health studies and one majoring in political science attended the 42nd annual Minority Health Conference at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health on Feb. 25 and 26. This conference is the largest and longest-running student-led health conference in the United States.
This year, the Minority Health Conference was focused on “Body and Soul” to emphasize the importance of looking past just physical health and considering the mental and social wellbeing of the whole person when thinking about public health. Students learned about the history of public health activism along with current multi-faceted efforts.
“The UNC Minority Health Conference highlights those who put in the work to fight for health equity in underserved communities. This conference shed a light on the tremendous work that is being done and all that we can do to support our community,” said Sarina Abraham ‘21.
The two keynote speakers were Sharrelle Barber, a social epidemiologist who focuses on the intersection of “place, race, and health” along with the role of structural racism on health inequities in the Southern U.S. and Brazil, and Wizdom Powell, current director of the Health Disparities Institute and associate professor of psychiatry at UConn Health. Students who attended the conference also attended many poster and breakout sessions to enhance their experience and connect with others.
Deena Elrefai ‘22 shared that “the minority health conference was a great experience that allowed me to learn about the intersections of race, power, and health. I was also able to better reflect on the things I’ve learned in my courses at Elon.”
The Public Health Studies Department plans to increase student involvement with the Minority Health Conference in the coming years.