5 Former U.S. Surgeons General to Speak About Health Disparities in the Era of COVID-19

Five former U.S. Surgeons General will meet virtually to discuss the problem of racial inequity in health care in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic on September 24 at 7:30 pm. The event is being organized by Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s School of Medicine, with Salem State University’s health care studies department and more than 30 other organizations as partners.

“This event is a great opportunity to raise awareness about health disparities, a problem that has long been present and is being exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amy Everitt, chair of the health care studies department at Salem State University, which prepares students for non-clinical careers in health care. “Over 50 percent of the students in our program identify as non-white, and they are living with these inequities as they prepare to address them in their careers.”

The panel discussion will be moderated by Dorothy Jones-Davis, PhD, the founding Executive Director of Nation of Makers, a nonprofit that helps America’s maker organizations through community building, resource sharing and advocacy. The five former U.S. Surgeons General who will participate in the roundtable Q&A include:

• Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General, who served during former President George W. Bush's administration.
• Dr. Joycelyn Elders, 15th Surgeon General and the United States' first Black surgeon general, who also served under former President William J. Clinton.
• Dr. Vivek Murthy, 19th Surgeon General, who served during former President Barack Obama’s administration.
• Dr. Antonia Novello, 14th Surgeon General, who served during former President George H.W. Bush's administration.
• Dr. David Satcher, 16th Surgeon General, who served during former President William J. Clinton's administration.

Tickets and Registration

Members of the general public are invited to purchase tickets for $20. Prior to the 7:30 pm panel discussion, attendees are invited to watch an online screening of the documentary Open Season: Racism and Health Disparities, the Two Deadliest Diseases in America at 7 pm.

The panel discussion is open to the media.