Community Engagement Institute (CEI) Perspectives hosts engaged conversations that address focused topics of interest to communities to appreciate varied points of view and to serve as a call to action for science, service, and solutions. Drawing on a combination of formal presentations and moderated panels, this venue provides an agile and more frequent setting to respond to pressing issues.
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Thank you for a wonderful year of CEI Perspectives!Check back soon for more events, coming in 2025.
Subscribe to the CCTS Digest to be informed of all upcoming events, and view the Community Engagement Institute playlist on the CCTS Video Channel for recordings of previous CEI Perspective presentations.
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Understanding Clinical Trials in Underserved Communities
Check back soon to read an event overview. View event recording here.
Understanding Clinical Trials in Underserved Communities
December 12, 2024, 10am-11:30am via ZoomJoin the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Communty Engagement Institute (CEI) for a discussion on raising awareness of clinical trials in underrepresented communities. This event for researchers, healthcare professionals, and community advocates will highlight recruitment strategies, barriers to participation, ethical considerations, and community partnerships.
Featuring an expert panel and an interactive Q&A session, participants will gain actionable insights and best practices to foster equitable participation in clinical research and improve health outcomes.
Moderator | Caroline Compretta, PhD
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Associate Professor
Department of Preventive Medicine
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Panelist | Tiffany Mayo, MD
Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research
UAB Dermatology
Panelist | Kimberly McCall, PhD, MPA
Assistant Professor
Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Specialist
UAB Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
Panelist | Tracy Flemming Tracy, OT/L, MSCS, PhD candidate
Healthcare Inclusion Specialist
National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
Director of Research, Tanner Foundation -
Building Health Literacy in Rural Underserved Communities
Click here to read an event overview. View event recording here.
Building Health Literacy in Rural Underserved Communities
October 29, 10-11:30am via ZoomJoin the CCTS Engagement of Communities for a discussion on health literacy challenges in rural communities, moderated by Claudia Hardy, Director of Community and Research Relations at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and Engagement leader. This event will explore how geographic location, access to healthcare, and communication barriers impact health outcomes and offer insights from leaders in health literacy and rural healthcare. Read more about our moderator and panelists below.
Moderator | Claudia M. Hardy, MPA
Instructor, Division of Hematology Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine
Director, Community and Research Relations; O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
Panelist | Joy P. Deupree, PhD, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC, FAAN
Director of Health Policy Partnerships | Office of Clinical and Global Partnerships
Professor, Department of Acute, Chronic & Continuing Care
UAB School of Nursing
Panelist | Rebecca A. Reamey, PhD
Director, Alabama Statewide AHEC System
Assistant Professor, UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine -
Healthcare Equity for People Who are Disabled
Click here to read an event overview. View event recording here.
Healthcare Equity for People Who Are Disabled
June 26th, 10-11:30am via Zoom
Join the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) as we bring community partners together for a critical conversation on building healthcare equity for people who are disabled. Exchanging knowledge about disability rights and advocacy as well as patient care and outcomes will create a beneficial platform for raising awareness, sharing resources, and determining next-step action items.
Participate in this engaging conversation to share different perspectives, collaborate on new initiatives, and build meaningful relationships. Together, we can create a more inclusive society on this important topic for better health outcomes.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is committed to providing access and accommodations in its services, programs, and activities. To make a request for accommodations due to disability please, contact Clifford Kennon at CCTS at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .Moderator
Allison B. Solomon MS CRC | ADA Compliance Officer
Executive Director, UAB Disability Support Services
UAB Division of Student AffairsPanelists
Jereme Wilroy, PhD
Director of Research, Lakeshore Foundation
Associate Professor, UAB Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Project Co-Director, UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System
John Roper
Chief Executive Officer
Disability Rights and Resources
Sara S. Newell
President
The Exceptional Foundation -
Healthcare Equity for People Who are Unhoused
Click here to read an event overview. View event recording here.
May 23 2:30pm-4:30pm | Healthcare Equity for People Who are Unhoused
People who are unhoused face physical, mental and social burdens that greatly increase morbidity and mortality rates relative to the general population. Extreme poverty, harsh living environments, trauma and structural barriers are all causes of their poor health. This discussion will bring together representatives from the academic/healthcare community and the nonprofit community seeking to better understand the resources available and ways to address healthcare for people unhoused in our communities. Join us as we share research and resources, raise awareness, and provide education and insight on this critical topic for better health outcomes.
Moderated by
Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, PhD
Associate professor, UAB School of Public Health, Health Behavior
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research, Birmingham, ALPanelists
Stefan Kertesz, MD, MSc
Professor of Medicine
Birmingham VA Medical Center | Division of Preventive Medicine | Heersink School of Medicine UAB | The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Monnaka Speights, RN, MSN, AG-CRNP
Social Work Services, HCHV
Birmingham Veterans Health Care System
Amy G. Sparks
Alabama Regional Medical Services
Senior Director of Behavioral Health/Homeless Services -
Community Violence Awareness
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Building Healthy Neighborhoods
Click here to view the recording
Building Healthy Neighborhoods │
Healthy neighborhoods are the fabric of community—providing a sense of place and identity while also connecting residents to daily needs such as clean environments, transportation, housing, healthy foods, quality education, neighborhood infrastructure, jobs, and opportunities for social connections. Join our panel discussion as we discuss the ways neighborhoods and partners can work together to share resources, raise awareness and provide education and insight to build healthy neighborhoods for better health outcomes.
Speakers
Dr. Lonnie Hannon - Moderator
Associate Professor, UAB School of Public Health
Birmingham Land Bank Authority
Carol Clarke
CEO Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham
Birmingham City Council District 8
Darrell O’Quinn, DVM, PhD
Birmingham City Council District 5
Mashonda Taylor
CEO, Woodlawn United
Meghan Venable Thomas, DrPH
Director of Community Development
City of Birmingham
Dr. Ronald Bayles
Executive Director, Titusville Development Corporation
Birmingham United Neighborhoods
Magic City Blight Busters -
Mental Health Equity
Panel Discussion Topic: Mental Health Equity
This community conversation surrounds underrepresented and marginalized groups have access to mental health care, supportive social conditions and access to resources needed for healthy living. A panel of experts explore ways to improve health outcomes by raising awareness, sharing resources and collaborating for impactful solutions.
Moderator and Panelists:
Frannie Horn JD, EdS, ALC, NCC
Director of Research Development | Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) | University of Alabama at BirminghamKimberly G. BoswellCommissioner | the Alabama Department of Mental Health
Nadia Richardson, PhD
Founder and Chief Executive Officer | Black Women’s Mental Health InstituteGriena Knight Davis, Ed.D, LPC, BC-TMH, BCC,Clinical Counselor | Catholic Family Services |Board Certified Coach and LPC | I CARE Wellness Services, LLC
Susan Sallin
President | National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Birmingham Chapter
Kady Abbott, Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC-S
Clinical Director | Fellowship House of Birmingham
Owner | Kady Abbott Counseling SolutionsZack McClain, LMSW,Therapist and Life Coach |Brother Let's TalkTM
Abigail Franks
Programs and Policy Manager | Southeast Climate & Energy Network
Katie Fagan, MSc, MA
Outreach Coordinator | Black Warrior River Keeper
Charles Powell
President and Founding Director | People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination (PANIC)
Jilisa Milton, JD, MSW
Deputy Director - Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships | Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (G.A.S.P)
Veena B. Antony, MD
Principal Investigator and Director | UAB Superfund Research Program
Professor of Medicine and Environmental Health Science -
Environmental Justice
Panel Discussion Topic: Environmental Justice
A safe and healthy place to live is a matter of justice. Join us for a community conversation on Environmental Justice with a diverse panel of experts. This event seeks to raise awareness of current major environmental issues and what communities are most affected by these, share resources, and help identify ways everyone can take action to affect positive change in communities and improve health outcomes.
Moderator and Panelists:
Abigail Franks
Programs and Policy Manager | Southeast Climate & Energy Network
Katie Fagan, MSc, MA
Outreach Coordinator | Black Warrior River Keeper
Charles Powell
President and Founding Director | People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination (PANIC)
Jilisa Milton, JD, MSW
Deputy Director - Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships | Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (G.A.S.P)
Veena B. Antony, MD
Principal Investigator and Director | UAB Superfund Research Program
Professor of Medicine and Environmental Health Science -
A Conversation on LGBTQ Health Equity
Panel Discussion Topic - LGBTQ Health Equity | August 30, 2022
Commitment to providing quality healthcare to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons is the focus of the conversation. Eliminating health disparities that occur based on sexual orientation, gender identity and presentation will improve overall community healthcare. This virtual event features a panel of experts leading discussions around this critical issue facing communities across the country and this discussion aims to explore ways to partner in research and in educational outreach toward solutions.
Moderator and Panelists:
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Sarah MacCarthy, PhD
Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies Endowed Professor
UAB Department of Health Behavior | UAB School of Public HealthJean Hernández, MA
Latinx Program Coordinator, AIDS ALABAMA
Austin H. Johnson, PhD (he/him/his)
Director, Southern Equality Research and Policy Center
Morissa Ladinsky, MD
Associate Professor, UAB Department of Pediatrics
Multidisciplinary Gender Health Team
Karen Musgrove, PhD
CEO, Birmingham AIDS Outreach
Bridge Hill Kennedy, PhD
Associate Professor, UAB Department of Psychology
Director, Online Undergraduate Program Research Concentration: Human Sexuality, LGBTQ+ Rights, Social Psychology, Human Development, and Gender Issues
Mauda Monger, PhD
Chief Operating Officer, My Brother's Keeper
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Racism as a Public Health Crisis
Panel Discussion Topic - Racism as a Public Health Crisis
June 23, 2022Across the country, local and state leaders are declaring racism a public health crisis or emergency. These declarations are an important first step to advancing racial equity and justice, and they must be followed by strategic action. This virtual event featured a panel of experts leading discussions around this critical issue facing communities in our region and beyond. The discussion also included ways to partner in research toward solutions.
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Maternal Mortality
This virtual event featured a panel of experts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson County Dept. of Health, Auburn School of Nursing, Alabama State Perinatal Division, and more, leading discussions around this critical issue facing communities in our region and beyond. This panel discussion aimed to help participants better understand the burden of maternal complications and mortality and to foster conversation on the health disparities that exist among the populations at greatest risk. Through discussion as well as educating the public through awareness, we hope to impact clinical practice and to explore ways to partner in research toward solutions in improving maternal outcomes in communities.
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Community Violence
In the past two years, homicides and gun assaults have risen as much as 30 percent in medium to large cities in the United States, with this type of violence disproportionately affecting communities of color and high-poverty neighborhoods. For more than 20 years, homicide has been the leading cause of death for African-American boys and young adults between the ages of 15 and 34. Community violence has been closely linked to inequities, including disparate access to employment, housing, health care, quality education, healthy food, and safety within neighborhoods. Birmingham and Jefferson County have experienced similar trends in both increases in violence and in social and racial inequity. This discussion will bring together representatives from multiple organizations and groups seeking to better understand the causes, current efforts underway, and possible solutions to addressing violence in our communities. Short presentations will be followed by an open forum where members of the community can come together to discuss how we might address community violence through multiple and interlocking efforts.
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Food Insecurity
Panel Discussion Topic - Food Insecurity
February 24, 2023
In 2020, 13.8 million households were food insecure at some time during the year according to the USDA. Join us for a community conversation on food insecurity, as we discuss the ways community groups and researchers might work together toward solutions. Through dialogue we hope to increase community awareness, share resources and provide education and insight to affect positive change in communities. Our incredible panel features speakers from UAB School of Public Health, UAB Blazer Kitchen, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Auburn University Hunger Solutions Institute, Harvest Community Charities, and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.
Moderator:
T.Marie King, Director of Youth Pathways & Experiences
Jones Valley Teaching Farm
Panelists:Lisa Higginbotham, LBSW, MPA, UAB Benevolent Fund Manager
Blazer KitchenErika Austin, PhD, MPH, CPH, Associate Professor and Associate Dean
UAB School of Public HealthAlicia Powers, PhD, Managing Director
Auburn University Hunger Solutions InstituteJames Harris, President and CEO
Harvest Community CharitiesEli Ponder-Twardy, Assistant Director of Programs
Community Food Bank of Central Alabama
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Understanding Clinical Trials in Underserved Communities
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For more information about CEI Perspectives events, contact:
Clifford KennonThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The CCTS is committed to providing access and accommodations in its services, programs, and activities.
To make a request for accommodations due to disability please, contact Clifford Kennon at CCTS atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
