Morehouse School of Medicine Wants To Close Health Disparities Gap

The school also has a new president, Dr. Valerie Rice. Rice is the school’s first female president and she’s said her goal is to close the health disparities gap. The school has published a lot of studies on these disparities – like the lack of access to mental health care in many minority communities. They’re also working hard to identify the genes that control sleep.  Rose Scott and Denis O'Hayer speak with Tasnim Shamma about research projects at the Morehouse School of Medicine and the school's mission.

Jammie Hopkins, Project Director of the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center, on the mission of the Morehouse School of Medicine:

“We’re very adamant about focusing our attention on populations that often don’t have a voice. And it’s reflected in not only research but also in clinical practice and educating. You know, a lot of students don’t come from privileged backgrounds. And our goal is to really nurture them and give them the skills they need to be successful and of course to go back or stay for that matter – sometimes people don’t leave the communities that they grew up in or the communities that they trained in – to be a resource in these communities. And that’s, that’s the fabric of Morehouse School of Medicine.”

Hopkins on incorporating community voices:

“You hear of challenges, you hear of the setbacks, you hear of the inequalities. But another part of the conversation that’s so salient are these community assets. The resiliency of these communities despite having all of these challenges — some people are still thriving and doing well. So that’s the part of the story that you’re not going to really get to unless you’re kind of in it.”