Martin Luther King Day 2023
Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to calling for the elimination of systemic factors and policies that perpetuate racial inequality. Dr. King worked relentlessly, despite personal risk, to create one, fully equal America; it’s heart-breaking to realize how far away we remain from achieving that vision. On this MLK day, the members of the CPUP Anti-Racism Committee are thinking about how Dr. King would assess our efforts to achieve his dream of creating a truly equitable society. On the one hand, never have so many organizations and individuals made a public commitment to reducing the destructive influences of racism. On the other hand, overtly racist acts, such as eliminating education about our history of slavery, discrimination, and segregation, are becoming increasingly public and commonplace. As a guide in these fraught moments, Dr. King wrote, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” We trust that he would have included all genders in this statement were he alive today.
The CPUP Anti-Racism Committee represents a cross-section of employees of CPUP, people from many job categories, nationalities, religions, racial backgrounds, and life experiences. To accelerate progress towards becoming an anti-racist organization, we offer our thoughts and guidance for you to navigate this paradoxical moment, full of hope and uncertainty:
- Reach out to learn more about people whose life experiences are very different than your own. Celebrate our beautiful differences.
- Continue your personal anti-racist journey. Speak up with care and sympathy when you observe hurtful acts of others, stereotyping and racial or ethnic humor.
- Ask for feedback about how you’re relating to others and accept that you’ve almost certainly made some mistakes. Be welcoming and thankful for the gift of receiving honest feedback.
- Call out systemic, structural factors that are disadvantaging people of color – within Penn and beyond our walls. Help CPUP, Penn Medicine, and our society do better.
- Do everything possible to ensure equitable health outcomes for all.
- Join in the struggle against injustice. As Dr. King said, “It’s more difficult today because we are struggling now for genuine equality, and it’s much easier to integrate a lunch counter than it is to guarantee a livable income and a good, solid job.”
Dr. Kings’ words endure as a constant truth, lighting the pathway for our actions: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED & THE NEW DATE WILL BE SENT SOON
Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD, ML
Vice Dean for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
Perelman School of Medicine
Cordially invites you to attend the annual
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Health Equity Symposium
This event will be held virtually.
You will receive call-in details after submitting the registration form.
Click here to register now.
Keynote Address
Joneigh Khaldun, M '06, MD, MPH, FACEP
Emergency Medicine Physician, Henry Ford Hospital
Adjunct Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan
Dr. Khaldun will present
"Why the System Doesn't Work and How We Can Fix It"
There will be a brief question and answer session followed by a musical performance.
As noted on the Penn Medicine OIDE website, “Lasting commitment is born of genuine appreciation for what we aspire to be. Penn Medicine’s commitment to inclusion and diversity is more than words; it is a commitment backed by actions and accountability. These are the foundation of our core values and the strategic priorities that drive how we discover, educate, and serve the world.”
We hold ourselves accountable to develop and implement strategies that ensure equity and eliminate racism through events like the Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Symposium. This annual event reviews and explores how the teachings of Dr. King can help reduce healthcare inequity and improve health access today.
Inquiries: khertz@upenn.edu
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED & THE NEW DATE WILL BE SENT SOON
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
2023 MLK Speaker - Timshel Tarbet
"Practical Ways to Deliver Healthcare and Address Inequities"
Timshel Tarbet (she/her/hers)
VP, Business Excellence & Diversity Strategy
SCAN Health Plan
Hosted by the CPUP Committee on Anti-Racism
Click here to Join Zoom Meeting
+1 301 715-8592, 937-624-38072# US (Washington)
+1 312 626-6799, 937-624-38072# US (Chicago)
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Meeting ID: 937-6243-8072