Tuesday, February 23, 2021

DMID Black History Month Panel: The impact of COVID-19 in African American communities

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Dr. A. Oveta Fuller, Associate Professor and Virologist, University of Michigan

A. Oveta Fuller is an associate professor of microbiology and immunology in the University of Michigan (U-M) medical school, former director of the African Studies Center (ASC), faculty in the U-M ASC STEM Initiative and an adjunct professor at Payne Theological Seminary (PTS). As a career virologist, Dr. Fuller's laboratory team and interdisciplinary collaborators published studies of early events in the replication of herpes simplex and influenza viruses.  Along with many academic and community awards, she is a Fulbright Faculty Scholar, Ford Foundation Fellow (FFF), and the FFF liaison for the state of Michigan.  Her implementation research with the Trusted Messenger Intervention engages networks of religious leaders in communities of Zambia and the USA so these influential leaders can embrace science and medical discoveries to effectively address HIV/AIDS. More recently her group is exploring use of the Trusted Messenger approach in other countries with preventable diseases including COVID-19. She currently serves on the FDA advisory committee for vaccine review.

Dr. Stephaun E. Wallace, Staff Scientist, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch

Dr. Stephaun Wallace is a research epidemiologist and an expert in developing, implementing and evaluating major public health and human service programs in the areas of prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases globally. He is the director of external relations of both the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the COVID-19 Prevention Network. Dr. Wallace leads the networks’ external relations strategies and efforts globally, with a focus on building long-term relationships with key stakeholders. An internationally recognized leader and speaker in public health and social justice, Dr. Wallace has more than two decades of experience in sexual and public health practice and research, social justice, and community mobilization within diverse populations globally. He views public health work through a social justice lens to understand how population-level health is affected by structural and social factors like stigma, racism, sexism, historical trauma and inequalities in education and income.
Dr. Leon McDougle, President of the National Medical Association (NMA) 

Proximity and collaboration have been keys to Dr. Leon McDougle’s success as a funded researcher, clinician and leader. He wholeheartedly agrees with Bryan Stevenson, Esq., author of “Just Mercy” about the importance of proximity in service to a community. Dr. McDougle has gained valuable insight from listening to patients and families that he has served on the Near Eastside of Columbus as a family physician and researcher since 2001. This insight has allowed him to provide leadership in developing collaborative relationships for innovation and research. Dr. McDougle enjoys team-based science and helping others advance in their academic career. 

Dr McDougle was the 1st African American Professor with tenure in The Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine and the 1st Chief Diversity Officer ‘Aka Chief Collaborating Officer’ for the OSU Wexner Medical Center. In addition, Dr McDougle has been a member of the NIDDK Network of Minority Research Investigators since 2008 and currently serves on the NMRI Annual Workshop Planning Committee.

Dr. McDougle has been recognized as being among the top 10 percent of physicians nationally for patient satisfaction. In addition, on August 4, 2020, he was installed as the 121st President of the National Medical Association during the 125th Anniversary of the NMA.

This fiscal year Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) will be hosting a virtual lecture series surrounding the impact of COVID-19 in different communities. The series will highlight communities corresponding with heritage awareness months. 

February is Black History Month. Please join us on February 23rd 12 – 1pm for the third informal virtual brown-bag discussion in this virtual lecture series. This session will cover the impact of COVID-19 in African American communities.