Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism Council

DEAR Council Race & Racism Series: Empowering People for Inclusive Communities (EPIC) Training
2025-09-23 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Hear from Jeff Lafata-Hernandez, a leader in empowering youth with disabilities and the founder of Empowering People for Inclusive Communities (EPIC). Jeff will share valuable insights on ableism and the importance of inclusion in clinical settings—crucial knowledge for future PAs, PTs, Doctors and Dentists. This is a virtual session.

Session Highlights:

Understanding ableism

Building inclusive programs

Teaching self-advocacy

Implementing reasonable accommodations

Creating inclusive health care environments

This training is particularly important for patient-facing clinicians, who play a vital role in creating inclusive health care environments. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of ableism and learn how to address institutional barriers, fostering inclusion within their organizations and ensuring that all patients receive equitable care.

Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQIA+ People Panel with SpeakOUT Boston
2025-10-29 18:00 - 19:00
Please register for DEAR Council Advancing Trans Health Equity Panel with SpeakOUT Boston

When: Wednesday, October 29, 6-7pm ETWhere: In-person at MedEd B09 (catering will be served). Virtual streaming available.

Invited Guests:

SpeakOUT Boston Panel Members

Overview:Join the DEAR Council for an engaging and important conversation on advancing health equity for trans and gender-diverse communities. This hybrid event will feature a panel discussion with members of SpeakOUT Boston, a community of LGBTQIA+ speakers sharing personal stories to foster understanding and inclusion.

Why We Need DEI in Healthcare
2025-11-20 18:00 - 19:00
Join the DEAR Council for a vital conversation on why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) matter so deeply in healthcare and how we can all help build a system that serves everyone.

We are honored to present Dr. Bonzo Reddick, Professor of Community Medicine.

Whether you’re pursuing public health, clinical medicine, or biomedical sciences, this conversation will deepen your understanding of why DEI is not just a professional value, but a clinical imperative.

Bonzo K. Reddick, MD, MPH A native of Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Bonzo Reddick earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and his MD degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. He completed a Family Medicine residency and earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before returning to Chatham County in 2014. He currently serves as a Professor of Community Medicine at Mercer University’s School of Medicine and provides medical care at a mobile Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) clinic through the J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and was named the Georgia Family Physician of the Year in 2021.
