HMS & HSDM Office for Community Centered Medical Education

𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟎% 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐃𝐂.

“The flattening and beginning of a decrease in the curve of overdose deaths is incredibly positive news, especially after years of rising and rising rates of death. … Hopefully this is a testament to some of the work that's been going on both nationally and here in Massachusetts,” said Dr. Sarah Wakeman, the senior medical director for substance use disorder at Mass General Brigham.

Fatal opioid overdoses dropped 10% in Massachusetts last year, according to CDC “It's still too soon to celebrate; we have really yet to bend the corner. … But I do think the latest data gives us some reason to be hopeful.”

Check out this volunteer opportunity. 👇

Consider attending this grand rounds session hosted by Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care to learn about centering the community to advance birth equity.

There are dire statistics surrounding Black maternal health in the U.S. Join us for our next Grand Rounds session to learn how providers can help advance equity. We'll be joined by Dr. Adeola Oni-Orisan who will discuss current research on community-based models for addressing racial inequities in birth outcomes.

📅Wed., April 24, 12-1 p.m.
🖥️Virtual
✴️Visit the registration page to learn about CME credit.

👉Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q02p5Ghy0

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️Join the Harvard Longwood community team for this year's Winter Walk! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️
HMS DCIP invites you to walk with us to help end homelessness and housing instability. Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q02jWvMZ0.

📣 Calling all students! 🌟 Looking to make a difference in your community? Join FriendshipWorks, a local non-profit organization, for an exciting opportunity to volunteer with them! 🤝✨

👉 RSVP by visiting https://hubs.li/Q02fDwnG0. 🙏❤️

Want to be a health equity scholar? Apply before Wednesday, Nov. 15 to be considered for the Cambridge Health Alliance Health Equity Scholars Program.

Health Equity Scholars — CHEEA Health Equity Scholars Program is designed to equip health professionals with the tools they need to advocate and organize for health equity in their communities and institutions.

HMS Office of Diversity Inclusion & Community Partnership is hosting an equity and social justice webinar series. Join the Nov. 7 session to learn about immigrant health. Panelists will discuss:
👉Health inequities impacting immigrants
👉Access to care
👉Mental health needs
👉The laws preventing improved health outcomes
👉Interventions on a local and national level to address health disparities

Register now at https://hubs.li/Q025GY0q0

Patients face many economic and political barriers to accessing the highest-quality treatments. Learn how primary care providers can help address these barriers this November as we hear Dr. Amitabh Chandra discuss innovation and pricing in the biopharmaceutical industry and value in health care.

📅Wednesday, Nov. 8, 12-1 p.m. ET
📍Virtual event
✨All are welcome
⚕️Participants with an MD who view the event live may be eligible for CME credit

Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q023BSTh0

Thank you to everyone who joined the HMS Student Resource Fair and stopped by our table to learn about the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care and the Office for Community Centered Medical Education. If you have questions about OCCME, reach out to us any time at [email protected].

Since 1992, The Family Van has improved health care access by partnering with underserved Boston communities. On the van, a team of community health workers provides free health screenings, education, and community referrals. Accompanied by students and volunteers, it foster client-centered, empathetic, compassionate care. Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q01_tcw70.

We Are Better Together Warren Daniel Hairston Project serves families on all sides of homicide, incarceration, and violence, aiming to create a world where cycles of trauma and violence are broken.

Thank you WAB2G for allowing HMS and HSDM students to learn about your mission. Learn more about their work at https://hubs.li/Q01_msyX0.

First-year HMS and HSDM students were honored to learn from We Got Us Project, a grassroots non-profit organization that empowers the Black and Brown residents of the Boston area with medical resources and knowledge to combat medical racism.

We Got Us played a pivotal role setting up vaccine clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dorchester, Roxbury, and East Boston, and their continued efforts include creating PPE kits and distributing ‘Appointment Empowerment’ materials.

Students wanted to give a special thanks to Giovanni, Khadija, and local youth, saying "As future physicians, we will carry these lessons forward regarding medical racism, and work to correct the systemic inequities in health care."

Learn more about We Got Us at https://hubs.li/Q01-ZKsy0.

It's Intro to the Profession week! Tyler LeComer (HMS Class President '24 and OCCME student leader) is teaching first-year students about local Boston communities, including HMS' historical impact, community-based organizations, and ways to get involved.

Consider joining Roxbury Community College's first Health, Wellness & Healing Symposium. You'll hear presentations by field experts delivering critical information about physical and mental health, as well as healing and wellness practices. Learn more at https://www.rcc.mass.edu/50years/attend/health-and-healing.html.

Empowered by The Dimock Center, HoodFit, and the Boston Athletic Association, the Road to Wellness 5K celebrates community, culture and your own unique journey toward mind, body and spiritual health and wellness. Volunteers are an important part of making this event happen. Consider donating your time on Sept. 9. Help is needed at the registration desk and along the running/walking route.

Learn more and sign up at https://hubs.li/Q01WL6Mf0.

Primary care providers regularly provide critical support for patients with substance use disorders. During this virtual event, a diverse panel of providers will discuss their innovative approaches to treating substance use disorder in their communities, including Housing First programs, the Project ECHO model, harm reduction, and patient advocacy. Everyone is welcome to attend.

🔸Tuesday, June 13, 12 p.m. ET🔸

🔸Register at https://hubs.li/Q01RQN_y0🔸

Don't forget to join the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care today at 12:15 p.m. ET to learn about careers in community health from MassLeague physicians and clinicians. You can attend virtually or in person on the HMS campus. Panelists will join via Zoom. Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q01MXRh20.

Join members of the Harvard Longwood community at the annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace! 🚶‍♀️☮️🚶‍♂️

This 4.3-mile walk will raise generate support for the important work of the Peace Institute in their goal to cultivate cycles of peace among survivors and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss.

𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟: Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14, 2023) starting at 8 a.m., with an 8:30 a.m. walk kick-off
𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖: The walk starts and ends at Town Field Park in Dorchester
(free parking is available and MBTA stations are nearby)

Visit https://hubs.li/Q01Mz2ys0 and click "Join our team" to register.

Read how Victor A. Lopez-Carmen, M.D. ’24 (known as Waokiya Mani in the Dakota language and Machil in the Yaqui language) fights for Indigenous healthcare equity.

Helping Hands Future physician Victor A. Lopez-Carmen fights for Indigenous healthcare equity

Medical professionals are trained to ask patients many hard questions—about housing insecurity, immigration status, trauma history, etc.—but what action should you take when your patients screen positive? Join Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care in person to hear panelists from Project Bread discuss what to do when your patient screens positive for food insecurity.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: Thursday, April 27 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: TMEC Room 128, located at 260 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: All health profession students
𝐑𝐒𝐕𝐏: https://hubs.li/Q01JKJ2x0

Join the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care to learn about careers in community health from MassLeague physicians and clinicians. Lunch will be provided for those who are able to attend in person at TMEC 250 (260 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115). Our panelists will join via Zoom. Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q01JhVcP0

Boston organizations are coming together to amplify the voices of Black and brown community members around bias in health care. Join the Community Voices to Restore Medical Trust event on March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Get the details and register at https://hubs.li/Q01JgrCC0

Join Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care on April 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m. for lunch and a conversation with Damon P. Leader Charge to gain an understanding of:
✅Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires aka Great Sioux Nation) history and treaties
✅Tribal public health
✅Revitalization through culture
✅Creating networks of understanding

You are welcome to join in person or via Zoom. We will provide lunch to those who join in person.

Get the details and register at https://hubs.li/Q01J01jp0

Attend this April 1 event to hear Michelle Browder talk about the so-called “father of gynecology,” J. Marion Sims' controversial, yet medically significant research on enslaved Black women, their experience, and legacy. Lunch will be served. Get the details at https://hubs.li/Q01HHc120.

The HMS Office of Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership (DICP) is seeking volunteers for the Biomedical Science Careers Student Conference. Join us to help with registration. We're expecting 900+ student/fellow attendees as well as 250+ advisors and panelists.

𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟: Saturday, April 1, 6:45-9:15 a.m.
𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖: the Westin Copley Place
𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕤: Parking and breakfast will be provided.
𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟 𝕦𝕡: Contact [email protected] to volunteer.

Registration for the 9th Annual is now OPEN! 🏃‍♂️🏃🏃‍♀️

Visit https://raceroster.com/events/2023/73182/road-to-wellness-5k-run2-mile-walk to register for FREE!

A recent study finds that despite policy and social advances in sexual minority rights and acceptance, le***an, gay, and bisexual people in the U.S. continue to have worse health and less access to health care than their heterosexual peers. The study's authors suggest some steps for improvement, including:
✅Making clinical environments more inclusive
✅Ensuring that all clinicians receive adequate LGB-related training
✅Increasing access to practitioners with expertise in sexual minority health care
Read more in the HMS News article.
https://hubs.li/Q01DwG900

Health Disparities Persist for LGB People Policy, social advances haven't been enough to improve health care access, outcomes

Michelle Keenan recently joined DCIP as the director of community engagement and education. She collaborates with OCCME and departments across HMS on impactful strategies to address health equity in our local communities as well as increase STEM opportunities for young people in Boston and Cambridge.

Getting to Know Michelle Keenan New DICP director of community engagement and education on health care equity and spicy curries

HMS and hospital affiliate staff and faculty joined more than 3,000 participants in the Feb. 12 The Winter Walk to help end homelessness. ❄️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶

Get your tickets for the annual Black Health Matters Conference. This event is Feb. 18-19 with special guests such as
👉🏾Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born physician who holds eight degrees and certifications in the medical sciences and business management. He is a recipient of the AMA “Distinguished Service Award.”
👉🏾Thea James, MD, Vice President of Mission, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Co-Executive Director of the Health Equity Accelerator at Boston Medical Center.
Learn more and register at https://hubs.li/Q01BBqYP0.