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Inaugural Symposium

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“Racial equity is very important to me, that’s why I wanted to be here for this symposium.”

-Sylvia Rozario, symposium participant

A photo of Sylvia Rozario.

(Past) Wednesday, September 21, 2022
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The VCU Office of Health Equity is excited to host the inaugural History and Health: Racial Equity Symposium on the MCV Campus. The symposium will give VCU and VCU Health students, faculty, staff, and community members an opportunity to examine historical and contemporary examples of interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism in science and healthcare; gain an understanding of how their experiences today are influenced by this history; and to be motivated to cultivate change on an individual and institutional level.

The majority of the cost of participation is underwritten with funding provided by the VCU Office of Health Equity. Your cost is only $25 through September 14, 2022, or $35 when registering between September 15-18. We encourage everyone to attend the symposium in person; however, if that is not an option, the two keynote addresses and Q & A sessions will have a virtual attendance option.

Symposium chairperson: Carlos Smith, DDS, MDiv, FACD, VCU School of Dentistry

Kicking off the event is:

Symposium Objectives

At the conclusion of the symposium, attendees will gain an increased awareness of:

  1. The impact of history on current health inequities,
  2. Social determinants of health,
  3. The role of art and activism in advancing health equity.

Meet your speakers


Keynote workshops

Workshop tracks

Intersection of Arts and Health Equity Track

History and Health Inequities Track

Attendance

In-person: Symposium attendees can earn a foundational History and Health: Racial Equity digital badge and will be issued a certificate of attendance. The symposium will also count towards the VCU Health Systems DEI learning requirements. Participants should sign the attendance form at the registration desk on the day of the event in order to verify attendance and to be issued the certificate. The registration fee includes access to in-person symposium sessions, breakfast and lunch.

It is our pleasure to provide you with a boxed lunch consisting of a sandwich, pasta salad, cookie, pickle wedge, and bottled water. If you have any essential food allergies, sensitivities, or dietary restrictions, please email healthequity@vcu.edu no later than Friday, September 16. In the email, please include your full name, and the specific restriction.

Virtual: If choosing to view the keynote workshops virtually, VCU will provide links and passwords so that participants can join the event live. The certificate will be awarded to those that fully attend the virtual keynote workshops/sessions. Virtual keynote workshops/sessions will meet partial requirements towards earning a digital badge.

There are a limited number of registration waivers available in order to ensure cost is not a barrier to attendance. Individuals seeking a registration fee waiver should contact the VCU Continuing and Professional Education program manager and school liaison, Shelly Schuetz, at ssschuetz@vcu.edu

We encourage students to review their syllabus and/or contact their professors to find out if extra credit will be granted for attending this event and, if any other specific requirements or guidelines have been outlined by individual professors to earn extra credit in their class.

Location and parking

The History and Health: Racial Equity Symposium will be held at the McGlothlin Medical Education Center, at 1201 E Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23298. Daily or hourly parking is available at various locations near the event. A limited number of parking spaces will be available at the Gateway Building valet site. If you are interested in this option, please contact healthequity@vcu.edu to inquire about availability. Additional parking is available on the MCV Campus at the 8th Street Parking Deck located at 659 N. 8th St., Richmond, VA 23298.

If choosing to view the keynote workshops and Q&A sessions virtually, VCU will provide links and passwords so that participants can join the symposium live online.


Optional film screening, panel discussion and reception

The VCU Office of Health Equity will also host The Color of Care film screening, panel discussion and reception on September 27 from 4-7 p.m., at the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at the Markel Center, 601 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220.

Learn more


Cancellation/change policy

Registrations will be accepted through September 18, 2022. The registration fee will be $25 through September 14, 2022. Registrations between September 15-18, 2022 will be $35. Cancellations received on or before September 14, 2022, will receive a full refund of the registration fee. Cancellations or changes to your attendance selections must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu. No refunds are given after September 14, 2022. 

In the unlikely event that this program is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include, but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.

Transfer policy

You may transfer your registration to a different person if requested in writing via email at ssschuetz@vcu.edu by September 18, 2022.

Want to find out more? Get in touch.