17 minute read
News Briefs
Morehouse School of Medicine Receives Nearly $9.7 Million Grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Build COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has received a nearly $9.7 million grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create HealthWorks, a program to increase vaccine confidence in Georgia and Tennessee through targeted, culturally competent, and outreach education, with a focus on communities of color.
Morehouse School of Medicine received the award from the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration as part of its Community-Based Workforce for COVID-19 Vaccine Program. Arletha W. Livingston (Lizana), PhD, MPH, MBA, director of MSM’s Innovation Learning Laboratory for Population Health and an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine, will lead the project as principal investigator.
HealthWorks aims to reach individuals in the most vulnerable and medically underserved communities, which often have high levels of COVID-19 infections and lower-than-average vaccination rates. Over the next nine months, the initiative will utilize thousands of community outreach workers, including public health professionals, patient navigators, and social support specialists for outreach efforts. Amerigroup Foundation Grants Morehouse School of Medicine $1.725 Million to Support Narrowing the Maternal Health Inequity Gap through Training Program
Morehouse School of Medicine is pleased to announce it has received a grant of $1.725 million to be awarded over the next 36 months from the Amerigroup Foundation. The grant will help fund Morehouse School of Medicine’s (MSM) Narrowing the Maternal Health Inequity Gap through Training program. The initiative will reach more than 127,000 pregnant and parenting Black women and their families, with the goal of narrowing maternal mortality and maternal morbidity disparities through enhanced communication, reduced bias, clinical care coordination, and improved performance for marginalized communities. Specifically, the grant funds Enhancing Communication and Respectful Care Training, Training of Perinatal Professionals, and a rural maternal health residency program to expand the maternal health workforce in Georgia. The initiatives will be led by MSM’s Center for Maternal Health Equity.
MSM, UAB and Tuskegee University receive $18 million grant to reduce cancer disparities
The National Cancer Institute has collectively awarded the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Cancer Health Equity Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Tuskegee University’s Multidisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research a five-year, $18 million grant renewal to study and address cancer disparities in underserved communities across the South.
The grant will focus on intervention and prevention for these communities across the South, particularly in Georgia and Alabama — areas with some of the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States. The grant will enable researchers from the institutions to focus on implementing precision cancer medicine, cancer research, education, and training programs to try to understand the cause of cancer disparities. Researchers will also engage the community to identify other research and education areas and assure evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies. This tripartite research effort, initially funded by NCI as a cooperative grant in 2006, pairs National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers such as the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center with institutions, such as Morehouse School of Medicine and Tuskegee University, that work with underserved populations.
Morehouse School of Medicine Appoints Cindy Lubitz as Chief People Officer
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Cindy Lubitz as the new Chief People Officer (CPO), who joined the institution March 21, 2022. In this critical role, Lubitz will work with Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, to create and drive an overarching human capital strategy for the institution. She will lead the human resources function and operate as a strategic partner in a highly innovative environment, aligning business and talent strategies as well as partnering with many different stakeholders, employees, and leaders.
Lubitz is the founder and managing director of inTalent Consulting Group, LLC, an Atlanta-based human resources strategy-consulting firm that works with leaders to improve their human capital efforts. A seasoned leader with 20-plus years’ experience leading human resource functions for Fortune 100 companies, Lubitz focuses on growing and scaling businesses, and aligning integrated talent processes to add velocity to business growth strategies.
Lubitz earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia before earning a Master of Science in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is viewed as a critical business partner and strategic advisor to senior leaders in the areas of CEO succession, HR strategy, organization effectiveness, leadership development, and talent acquisition.
Dr. Barney Graham Joins Morehouse School of Medicine Faculty
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is proud to announce that esteemed clinical trials physician, immunologist, and virologist Barney Graham, MD, PhD, has joined the MSM faculty as a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology (MBI) as of May 1, 2022. In addition, Dr. Graham will serve as senior advisor for global health equity in the Office of the President and CEO.
After over 20 years as an investigator at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Graham retired in September 2021 as deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center and chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory. He was recently elected into the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
Earlier this year, Dr. Graham received the NAS 2022 John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science, which acknowledged his “groundbreaking work on vaccine and monoclonal antibody development for COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, HIV, and other emerging viruses.”
Meghan Frost Joins More in Common Alliance as System Vice President, Philanthropy and Campaigns
The More in Common Alliance welcomes Meghan Frost as system vice president, philanthropy and campaigns. She will lead fundraising efforts to support the More in Common Alliance, a historic partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health, aimed at addressing the underlying causes of health inequities, including lack of representation among care providers.
Announced in December 2020, the More in Common Alliance will address critical gaps in care and increase representation by expanding undergraduate and graduate medical education opportunities, supported by a 10-year, $100 million fundraising campaign.
Recognized Leader in Health Disparities Veronica Mallett, MD to Join The More in Common Alliance
Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health announce that Veronica Mallett, MD, a healthcare industry veteran whose career has focused on eliminating healthcare disparities, was selected as chief administrative officer for the More in Common Alliance. In this role, she is dedicated to supporting the partnership between the two organizations which was launched in December 2020 as a 10-year, $100 million initiative to increase cultural competency and expand representation in medicine.
In this role, Dr. Mallett will help steer the future of the partnership, working closely with leadership to identify, build, and expand Undergraduate Medical Education, Physician Assistant, and Graduate
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has launched the “Danforth Dialogues” podcast, which will be hosted by Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice and feature leadership lessons from the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been an historic challenge to the worldwide healthcare system, but it has also given us the opportunity to implement new and innovative ways to mitigate disease and respond to a global health crisis,” says Dr. Montgomery Rice. “Through Danforth Dialogues, we want to bring some of the leadership lessons we learned in the pandemic to not only the healthcare community, but a broader range of industries and professions in hopes that we might help others as they face challenging circumstances now and in the future.”
To listen and subscribe to the Danforth Dialogues podcast, visit https://omny.fm/shows/danforth-dialogues/playlists/podcast. For more information about the Danforth Dialogues leadership series, please visit: www.msm.edu/about_us/office-president-ceo/DanforthDialogues.php. Medical Education programs to address the ongoing shortage of physicians nationwide, especially in underserved and rural areas.
Dr. Mallett joins the More in Common Alliance from Meharry Medical College, having served in various leadership roles with the country’s largest private, historically black academic health sciences center. Most recently, she served as president and CEO of MMC Ventures, an investment and innovation company dedicated to partnering with businesses whose missions center on eliminating health disparities in Middle Tennessee and beyond. She concurrently served as the executive director at Meharry’s Center for Women’s Health Research, where she led the charge to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity for women of color. In addition, Dr. Mallett served as senior vice president and dean of the school of medicine at Meharry.
“In my career, I’ve seen the positive impact on outcomes when patients have a provider that looks like them. It’s critical that we support pathways to increase the number of Black and underrepresented providers,” says Dr. Mallett. “This is the mission of the More in Common Alliance and I am honored to help lead our efforts to ensure a future where more patients feel seen and represented by their providers.”
Morehouse School of Medicine Launches “Danforth Dialogues” Podcast Featuring Leadership Insights Learned in the Pandemic
Outgoing CommonSpirit CEO Lloyd Dean and MSM President Valerie Montgomery Rice
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice Appointed to President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science
MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice has been appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science.
Dr. Montgomery Rice has received numerous honors for her leadership and service, particularly on the issue of health equity. She currently serves on the Georgia Commission on Women, chairs the Georgia Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Health Equity Council, and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
The President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science evaluates nominees for the National Medal of Science, a Presidential Award to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, social, and behavioral sciences. Since its establishment, the National Medal of Science has been awarded to 506 distinguished scientists and engineers whose careers spanned decades of research and development.
“The State of Black America and COVID-19” Details Health Care Inequities in Black Community During Pandemic
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and its fellow members of the Black Coalition Against COVID (BCAC) released The State of Black America and COVID-19, a groundbreaking report that details health disparities that have persisted and intensified during the coronavirus pandemic.
The research focuses on how longstanding inequalities that Black Americans have experienced in terms of health care access, quality, and affordability have increased over the past two years, leading to higher-than-average rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in Black communities. The report was commissioned in January 2022 as Black Americans were hospitalized for COVID-19 at the highest rate since the pandemic began.
COVID-19’s toll on Black Americans is ongoing. This report draws attention to the continued disproportionate burden experienced by members of the Black community and will help guide advocacy and policy efforts to address these inequities — both during the current pandemic and beyond.
The report can be found at https://www.msm.edu/RSSFeedArticles/2022/March/ stateofblackamericareport.pdf.
In a “surprise” ceremony, MSM held a groundbreaking for the new Calvin Smyre Education Conference Center, named in honor of MSM Board of Trustees member and Georgia State Rep. Calvin Smyre, who recently retired as the Georgia legislature’s longest-serving member. Elected to the Georgia State House in 1974, Smyre was very instrumental in helping the medical school secure the state funding that was vital to its initial accreditation. He has been on the MSM board for 41 years. President Joe Biden has nominated Smyre to be the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. “From Day 1, Calvin Smyre has been an extraordinary supporter of Morehouse School of Medicine and it goes without saying that he was extremely instrumental in helping the school get the state funding it needed to open our doors more than 45 years ago,” says MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG. The new 52,300-square foot building, scheduled to be completed in early 2024, will contain conference and education space, group workspaces for students, outside relaxation space, and office space. The $45,000,000 facility was designed by Lord Aeck Sargent along with MSM leadership.
National survey conducted by the Morehouse School of Medicine and Teva Pharmaceuticals shows intensified impacts among vulnerable populations driven by lack of access to care
A new national survey, State of Access to Healthcare in America, released by Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) in collaboration with the Morehouse School of Medicine uncovered that access barriers due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted groups that are already likely to be more vulnerable, with caregivers (58 percent), women (54 percent), patients (74 percent), BIPOC (45 percent), and those with anxiety (29 percent) and depression (25 percent) reporting greater difficulty with healthcare access.
Existing Access Barriers Alongside Fear of COVID-19 Exposure Caused Healthcare Consumers to Delay Care Among healthcare consumers, 50 percent say they postponed or canceled healthcare services since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Routine exams, annual health checks, and dental care are most often avoided. Some 64 percent of healthcare providers also report that patients postponed or had to delay seeking healthcare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those facing access issues are far more likely to delay or cancel a healthcare consultation for an adult or child in the household (cancel or delay an adult visit 70 percent - 77 percent; child visit 72 percent - 77 percent) compared to those who do not (cancel or delay an adult visit 36 percent - 49 percent; child visit 47 percent - 53 percent). Consumers who delayed care cited exposure to COVID-19 as the primary reason, but other reasons include inability to take time off, lack of childcare, or lack of transportation, especially for younger, Hispanic and lower-income households.
Economic barriers were also a factor for BIPOC with 25 percent receiving unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Notably, one in 10 consumers also report challenges with prescription access or medication shortages, and this is a greater problem among younger healthcare consumers, urbanites, parents, and BIPOC.
“The survey results are clear: COVID-19 has widened the chasm,” says Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice. “This should further our resolve to address and eliminate health disparities in underserved communities, improving access to and the quality of care, as well as continuing to diversify the clinician workforce.”
More than 80 percent of Doctors Report Uptick in Mental Health Diagnoses While 47 percent of physicians say their practice experienced a decrease in routine visits, 59 percent report increases in mental health consultations. A vast majority of physicians (84 percent) report an increase in new diagnoses of mental health conditions since the pandemic began, with nearly two in three (65 percent) also mentioning worsening conditions among pre-diagnosed patients. Mental health conditions (anxiety and depression) are reported more among Hispanic adults, women, younger adults, adults residing in lower income households, or those with lower education.
Digital is Increasingly Important for Healthcare Needs, But Not Accessible to All Looking ahead, telehealth is expected to be a prominent approach for addressing healthcare needs and gaps to healthcare access, with 58 percent of consumers saying they are likely to use telehealth to see/visit their doctor or healthcare provider after the pandemic. Like healthcare consumers, three fourths of physicians and over half of pharmacists say they are likely to continue offering telehealth consultations even after the pandemic. However, telehealth is still not accessible by everyone, with more than 1 in 3 physicians and about half of pharmacists noting that most of the patients they serve are from low-income households and do not have the means to easily access telehealth. Three-fourths of physicians and 50 percent of pharmacists intend to provide virtual consultations even after the pandemic ends, but one third of healthcare providers report that access to telehealth is still limited for patients with low incomes.
74%
Patients
58%
Caregivers
54%
Women
45%
BIPOC
29%
Patients with Anxiety
25%
Patients with Depression
84% of healthcare providers
report an increase in mental health diagnoses since the pandemic began and nearly 65% report worsening conditions among existing patients Mental health conditions (anxiety & depression) are reported more among Hispanic adults, women, younger adults, and adults residing in lower income households or those with lower education
58% of healthcare consumers are likely to continue telehealth visits even after the pandemic
36%-54% of healthcare providers say that low-income households have limited access to telehealth (e.g., lack of Wi-Fi/computers at home) These findings show we must take action to address healthcare barriers magnified during COVID-19 Together, a
#PathToEquity
is possible
(L-R) President Valerie Montgomery Rice with Ambassador Andrew Young and his wife, Carolyn Young
Morehouse School of Medicine Raises More Than $3 Million at 12th Annual Hugh M. Gloster Society Celebration
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) secured more than $3 million to further its vision of leading the creation and advancement of health equity at the 12th Annual Hugh M. Gloster Society Celebration on Thursday, April 21, 2022. During a ceremony for both in-person and virtual guests, some of MSM’s most significant partners were recognized for their contributions to the institution and its past, present, and future endeavors.
“The 12th Annual Gloster Society Celebration was an incredible success. This was our first in-person event in two years, and we took advantage of the opportunity to honor the benevolence of Morehouse School of Medicine’s many champions and supporters,” says Harvey Green, senior vice president for the Office of Institutional Advancement. “We raised the most sponsorships and unrestricted funds of any Gloster Society Celebration in our history, invigorating our fundraising efforts and MSM’s dedication to our mission.”
The evening’s largest donation came from Morehouse School of Medicine Founding Dean and President Emeritus Louis W. Sullivan, MD, and his wife E. Ginger Sullivan, to establish an endowed professorship that MSM will name in their honor. Dr. Sullivan served as MSM President from 1981-1989 and as the 17th US Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1989-1993. He returned to lead MSM once more from 1993-2002 and has also been chair of the US President’s Commission on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and co-chair of the President’s Commission on HIV and AIDS. Among the Gloster Society Celebration’s top sponsors were The Home Depot, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Chick-fil-A, and Southern Company Gas. In addition, the UPS Foundation expanded its support for the UPS Scholars program, which awards scholarships to MSM students who commit to serving patients through primary care specialties.
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the nation’s three other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) medical schools have teamed with the NFL, the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS), and the Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS), to announce the launch of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, which will provide medical students with the opportunity to complete a clinical rotation with NFL club medical staff. This initiative aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine to help make a positive impact in the field and, over time, help to diversify NFL club medical staff.
Medical students interested in primary care sports medicine and/or orthopedic surgery from Morehouse School of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine, and Meharry Medical College will be selected by their respective schools to complete one-month clinical rotations with NFL clubs during the 2022 NFL season. A total of 16 students will participate in this inaugural season, two students each at eight participating NFL clubs: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders. In 2023, the program will expand to recruit students from additional academic institutions and medical disciplines and place those students with medical staffs at more NFL clubs.
