Dr. Thomas A. LaVeist, a leading researcher on the topic of health disparities and the social determinants of health who is also the Dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity, addressed the UT Southwestern community on Jan. 20 for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration. Dr. LaVeist said racial divisions in society contribute to racial inequality in medicine. Listen to Dr. LaVeist's full address at 10:59.

Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern, also delivered remarks during the virtual event and spoke about the social justice challenges faced during 2020. Dr. Podolsky called on UT Southwestern to take “meaningful action against racism and social injustice.” Listen to Dr. Podolsky’s full address at 3:39.

Each year the event honors three UT Southwestern students for their community service efforts – this year recognizing Fatou Sahor, Alison Liu, and Esha Hansoti. Ms. Sahor won the top prize, a $5,000 scholarship, and spoke to the audience on what she called the “double pandemic” of COVID-19 coupled with systemic racism.  Listen to Ms. Sahor’s full speech at 56:31.

Learn more about all the scholarship recipients’ community service efforts here.