Honoring the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
January 17, 2025
Dear Penn Medicine colleagues,
On the third Monday of January each year, our country commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of equality and justice endures. This National Day of Service encourages us to volunteer and consider ways to embody these ideals in our homes, work, and communities. This year’s holiday falls on Monday, January 20.
At Penn Medicine, our efforts are grounded in respect, dignity, and equity. Through innovative programs, faculty and staff across the Perelman School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania Health System are confronting the root causes of health disparities.
In 1966, during a Chicago meeting of health care professionals who provided aid to civil rights workers, Dr. King told reporters, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman.” The statement was both a charge and a challenge to the status quo.
Despite progress over decades, much more work remains to be done. From grassroots programs to greening initiatives, Penn Medicine is partnering with community organizations, policymakers, businesses, and others to address disparities that cause poor health.
We are also leading change through efforts like the Center for Health Justice and creative initiatives that move cancer screenings and preventive health care from the clinic to the community. In all endeavors, we are guided by the belief that every patient should have access to quality care, regardless of their background, income status, or zip code.
In case you missed the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Symposium, tune into the recording of “Bridging the Gap: Advancing Health Equity through Advocacy and Action.” Dr. Ala Stanford recalls her work during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a grassroots organization, the Black Doctors Consortium, which increased education, testing, and vaccination by setting up clinics in parking lots and neighborhoods across Philadelphia.
If you’d like to find opportunities to give back to your local community on Monday, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer page on the intranet or learn more about the CAREs Grant program to engage in activities year-round.
Thank you for all you do to support equity in your work and across our institution. Through words and deeds, we honor Dr. King’s vision, fostering a community – within Penn Medicine and beyond – that offers patients and families the best hope for the future.
Sincerely,
