Latinas and Maternal and Child Health: Research, Policy and Representation

Headshot for Dr LebronJoin the Hispanic Coalition of Healthcare Academics for an engaging presentation by Dr. Cynthia Lebron, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, and President of the APHA Latino Caucus for Public Health (2022-2025).

In this session, Dr. Lebron will explore critical aspects of maternal and child health (MCH) among Latinas. She will summarize how acculturation has been used to explain differences in MCH outcomes, discuss the limitations of the broad term “Latino” in capturing subgroup differences, and delve into the unique health challenges faced by Afro-Latino communities.

Additionally, Dr. Lebron will examine how the sociopolitical climate impacts family health and highlight the limited representation of Latinos in MCH research. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of these crucial issues from a leading expert in the field.

Monday, Oct. 14, noon - 1 p.m.
This event will be held in-person in the Kontos Medical Sciences Building auditorium.Learn more and register for this event »

Campus-Wide Events

  • Oct. 8 and Nov. 18

    Dialogue to Action: Community-building Circles to Foster a Culture of Respect and a Shared Sense of Belonging

    Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Monday, Nov. 18

    Dates: Tuesday, October 8, 2024; Monday, November 18, 2024
    Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
    Location: MMEC, Room 6-101

    The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is launching a new resource to foster more meaningful intergroup relationships and communications – Dialogue to Action: Community-building Circles to Foster a Culture of Respect and a Shared Sense of Belonging. A series of Community-building Circles open to faculty, staff, and students are scheduled over the next few months that seek to:

    • Create a sense of belonging through sharing stories and active listening.
    • Build and strengthen relationships and connections.

    Register for this event »

  • Oct. 14, noon

    Latinas and Maternal and Child Health: Research, Policy & Representation

    Monday, Oct. 14

    Join the Hispanic Coalition of Healthcare Academics for an engaging presentation by Dr. Cynthia Lebron, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, and President of the APHA Latino Caucus for Public Health (2022-2025). In this session, Dr. Lebron will explore critical aspects of maternal and child health (MCH) among Latinas. She will summarize how acculturation has been used to explain differences in MCH outcomes, discuss the limitations of the broad term “Latino” in capturing subgroup differences, and delve into the unique health challenges faced by Afro-Latino communities. Additionally, Dr. Lebron will examine how the sociopolitical climate impacts family health and highlight the limited representation of Latinos in MCH research. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of these crucial issues from a leading expert in the field.

    Learn more and register for this event »

  • Ongoing

    Stepping In 4 Respect Workshops

    See specific dates below

    Creating a Culture of Respect and Inclusion

    Through video scenarios, interactive debriefing discussions and improvisation experiences, participants will learn to support their School of Medicine colleagues and respond to situations where they may witness discriminatory behavior in both clinical and non-clinical learning environments. 

    Upcoming dates:

    Thursday, Sep. 12, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
    This event will be held in MMEC, room 5-101

    Friday, Nov. 12, 2024, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
    This event will be held in MMEC, room 5-101

    Learn more and register here

DEI in the News

Dialogue: What We Believe

We reaffirm the core values of human dignity and of mutual, unconditional respect, and we acknowledge our responsibility to condemn racism and all forms of discrimination.

Our students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are valued partners who provide essential perspective and context for how we more forthrightly conduct this work. Listening is the first step in making meaningful change, and we are inspired and humbled by the feedback and engagement from our School of Medicine community.

Join the conversation

Action: What We Are Doing

We are collaborating across our campus, health system and university to foster a welcoming community that supports and values people of all cultural backgrounds and life experiences and makes our medical school a more diverse and representative place to work.

Cultivating such an environment is essential to the fulfillment of our mission to improve the quality of health care for humanity, and we are committed to engaging in dialogue across the breadth of our community to fuel our short-term, mid-range and long-term actions.

Read more about our initiatives

Engagement

Where We Are Headed

As a pivotal step in turning dialogue into action, the School of Medicine is proud to announce its inaugural Inclusion Council. Members include students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who are dedicated to this vital journey.

We remain committed to communicating openly and forthrightly about pertinent developments and activities moving forward, and we welcome your continued input, advocacy and engagement.

Learn more

Learn more about other efforts to address race, diversity, equity and inclusion across VCU’s campuses and in the community.

DEI Resources