Today, Riverside Health System in partnership with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Eastern Virginia Medical School announced that they will unite the community in learning more about the causes and preventive measures associated with diabetes, as well as the necessary steps to improving health equity. They will conduct a virtual discussion on January 18, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. entitled, “Health Equity: Diabetes, Closing the Gap in Black Health Disparities.” Van Jones, CNN host and Dream Corps founder, will join the discussion.
“Riverside is thrilled to be partnering with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Eastern Virginia Medical School. This topic is imminently important to individuals here and across the country,” said Dr. Carl Gibson, Riverside endocrinologist and event moderator. “It is crucial that we not only address health inequity but educate those around us on the issues certain populations are facing, as well. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to do so, and we are looking forward to discussing diabetes and its impact in greater detail.”
There are over 34 million people in the United States with diabetes. While diabetes can affect people within any racial or ethnic group, it disproportionately affects people of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the prevalence of diabetes in non-Hispanic Blacks is 13.3% versus 9.4% in non-Hispanic whites. Discussion topics will address this and include:
- Facts about health disparities for Black Americans
- The road to trust between healthcare and the Black community
- Breaking down systemic racism and building equity
- What we can do to advocate, educate, and maintain self-care
The panel will feature:
- Van Jones: CNN host and Dream Corps founder
- Alfred Abuhamad, M.D.: Interim President, Provost, and Dean at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
- Elias Siraj, M.D., FACP, FACE: Professor and Chief of Division of Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is also David L. Bernd Distinguished Chair for Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research & Director of Strelitz Diabetes Center.
- Gaylene Kanoyton: Founder of Celebrate Healthcare, a health care advocacy, outreach, and education company, which has organized over 400 Community health care marketplace Insurance enrollment events to include COVID 19 test and vaccines in partnership with the faith community and local organizations to educate vulnerable populations on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid Expansion and COVID 19 vaccinations.
- Carl Gibson, M.D.:Double board certified Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, and Internal Medicine, Dr. Gibson serves as a staff endocrinologist at Riverside Endocrinology and Diabetes Center in Newport News.
This virtual event will take place on January 18 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET. For more information on panelists and registration, visit: riversideonine.com/healthequity.