The mission of the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center (MHHERC) at Dillard University is to take a comprehensive approach to advancing research across disciplinary areas, promote collaboration throughout the scientific community, and improve the overall quality of health for racial and ethnic minorities. The Beacon is the official newsletter of the MHHERC.

Dr. Cory Hebert moderates a discussion with former Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders and Dr. Sonee Weedn at the MHHERC Lecture Series in Georges Auditorium.

The MHHERC hosted the inaugural community–wide Lecture Series with Dr. Joycelyn Elders, on November 15, 2022 in Georges Auditorium. Dr. Elders is the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, the first African American and second woman to hold the role. While her tenure as Surgeon General was frequently marked by controversy to her progressive policy, she continued to raise important public health issues that still resonate today. The prestigious lecture series brings together distinguished public health professionals, scientists and scholars from across the nation whose work focuses on key aspects of health equity and eliminating health disparities.

Dillard welcomed Dr. Elders to the campus with a reception sponsored by the Church and Community Relations Office. As guests entered the building, they walked through an illuminated hallway that was lined with pictures from Dillard Pre-Med students. The program began with a dynamic original poem written by Dillard student De’Andre Bell, an Urban Studies and Public Policy major, that set the tone for the evening. Biology major and junior Kyla Mayo, who plans on becoming a medical doctor, honored Dr. Elders by reciting passages from Pearl Cleage’s poem, “We Speak Your Names.” After the student highlight portion, guests previewed a special documentary screening of “From the Cotton Fields to the White House: The Dr. Joycelyn Elders Story,” by Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Sonnee Weedn. Dr. Elders then took the stage to answer questions from the audience which was moderated by Dillard University's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Corey Hebert.

The evening concluded with various presentations to Dr. Elders, from organizations such as the Department of Health and Human Services, DePaul Community Health Centers and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. To view pictures from the event, click here.

The next Lecture Series will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 and feature the author of the book Say Anarcha about an enslaved woman forced to undergo experimental gynecological surgeries in the 1840's.

Increasing breastfeeding rates in Black communities is an important public health strategy to address maternal issues and decrease infant mortality. Black women have the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation compared with other racial and ethnic groups. To help address this disparity, healthcare company AETNA awarded a grant to the MHHERC to create a Mental Health Wellness & Lactation Lounge for students, faculty, staff, and the community.The grand opening took place on June 30, 2023 in Dent Hall with a press conference and ribbon cutting.

The room allows mothers the opportunity to return to work or school, while still breastfeeding or pumping. It also offers a respite to Dillard faculty and staff to practice self-care techniques to reduce stress caused by demands at work and home. According to Jess Hall, AETNA-CEO, the company is committed to working with partners like Dillard University to hep individuals, families, and broader communities in New Orleans achieve their best health. "This collaboration provides a safe place for faculty, staff, and students to escape the stressors of daily life and to breastfeed in comfort," Hall said.

The lounge includes a couch, massage chair, guided mediation programs, aromatherapy, soothing music, mood lighting that can help with relaxation and breastfeeding support resources. For breastfeeding moms at Dillard, the room has comfortable chairs, a table, outlets for electrical breastfeeding pumps, breastfeeding pillows, baby products, educational resources, a refrigerator for breastmilk storage and easy access to a sink for cleaning equipment.The Lactation Lounge is located in Room 120 of Dent Hall.

To view the live feed of the grand opening, click here. To see the promotional video click this link: www.youtube.com.

Hayley Brumfield, from Paulina, Louisiana majored in Biology with a Chemistry minor. Her career goal is to become a physician. She was matched with Dr. Yolanda O'Rourke, Staff Physician and 1987 Dillard graduate. Presenting the Bleu Blazer is Dr. Tursha' Hamilton, assistant professor of Biology.

The MHHERC hosted an end of the year reception for twenty-one (21) seniors in the Pre-Health Program at the first Bleu Blazer ceremony on April 24, 2023. The Pre-Health Program’s mission is to provide a supportive and empowering environment for students to prepare for and pursue post-baccalaureate academic opportunities leading to placement in careers as health care professionals. Students such as Kiarston Blackman (Junior), Monique Turner (Sophomore), Kayla Hennigan (Junior) and Nicholas Moody (Junior) participated in the event and detailed their experiences in the Pre-Health Program. The ceremony is a new tradition to honor students who have a GPA of 3.45 and above. Because Dillard professors are so instrumental in the success of their students, each honoree had a faculty or staff member who contributed to their success, present them with their Bleu Blazer during the ceremony.

Jayla Hennigan noted that, "Dillard has helped me grow in my confidence, knowledge, and leadership initiative. My professors and faculty constantly uplift me and remind me of the greatness I am destined to achieve."The blazer embodies the mission and culture of Dillard University, with the color blue having regal associations that denotes authority, trust, and confidence. Blazers are meant to be a powerful symbol not just of transformation, but also a symbol of affirmation in becoming a health professional. Students are encouraged to wear them to classes, conferences, graduate school interviews and any other occasion when they can represent Dillard.

During the event, it was also announced that MHHERC has partnered with Alumni Relations to create a Pre-Health Student/Alumni Mentoring Program that will aid Dillard University students in pursuit of health careers. Dillard Alumni participating in the program are matched with current students and purchase a Bleu Blazer for their mentee if they meet the GPA criteria. More information about the Pre-Health Student/Alumni Mentoring Program is below.

To view the live feed of the end of the year reception, click here.

Did you graduate from Dillard with a Major in Biology, Chemistry, Health Science, Healthcare Advocacy (Minor Only), Health Science, Physics, Psychology, or Public Health? OR...are you a physician, dentist, physical therapist, physician assistant, podiatrist, public health professional, healthcare administrator, veterinarian, athletic trainer, chiropractor, optometrist, biologist, chemist, mental health professional, or pharmacist? If yes, please join the Pre-Health Alumni/Student Mentoring Program where you can share your professional expertise, educational obstacles, personal triumphs and offer advice to current students who have similar career aspirations. 

Mentees and mentors will be matched by criteria and responses from their questionnaire that will be mutually beneficial to both participants. If interested in becoming a mentor, click here.

Ms. Latricia Tillman was named the new Pre-Health Career Advisor for Fall 2023 at Dillard University. She enters the role with more than 30 years of experience in focusing on organization-wide promotion of civil rights, equity, diversity and inclusion in health. Ms. Tillman has worked with human services and housing for community-based organizations, and local and state government organizations. Her accolades include being awarded the Boston University Dr. Martin Luther King Felllowship and a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation fellowship. Ms. Tillman was also the first African American Public Health Director in Oregon. Additionally, she co-founded the African American Outdoor Association to help connect Portland's Black community and the health benefits available from interacting with the Pacific Northwest. Ms.Tillman is excited to pivot away from government work, in order to work at Dillard University and support the next generation of health equity leaders. To learn more, click here. Ms Tillman's contact info is: ltillman@dillard.edu or 504-816-5702.

Dr. Angela Anderson poses with Dillard University President Dr. Rochelle Ford. Anderson was invited as a guest speaker at the 2023 New Orleans Essence Festival.

Dillard University alumna Dr. Angela Anderson was an invited guest speaker at the 2023 Essence Cultural Festival. She spoke to both public and private audiences about her career experience as head of Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and Operations at Novartis Pharmaceutical Company. Dr. Anderson spoke to a public audience about how to move in a corporate space regardless of gender and how to work with difficult leaders in the healthcare field. Her talk with a private audience was composed only of female executives and it provided a safe space to engage in professional development with fellow female leaders and women of color.

"Spaces like that are necessary that's for sure," Anderson said. "A lot of the women in those spaces are senior leaders in their organization, and a lot of times they are the one person of color or woman of color." Anderson's private professional development talk focused on strategy and navigation within organizations. She said it can be rare to have opportunities among other women of color to share their working experiences.

According to Dr. Anderson, her educational foundation at Dillard University promoted her own present advice to seize opportunities to add identities and skill sets to one's professional profile at every opportunity. Inspiration came from seeing people that look like her sharing enriching professional experiences with her as a student. She joked that she was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, but Dillard raised her.

"Everywhere that I go, I take Dillard with me." She also explained that the professors at Dillard were invested in her personal development. Dr. Anderson would go on to attend the University of Iowa on a full scholarship, due to her professor at Dillard's recommendation. She recently signed up to serve as an Alumni Mentor and is looking forward to being matched with a current Pre-Health student at Dillard.

D'Nyla Dean is a junior Biology major with a minor in Chemistry and pre-professional concentration in medicine. Her career goal is to become a Gynecologic Oncologist.

She serves as the vice president of the inaugural Code Bleu Health Prep Academy and the co-founder of its executive board. She also does research at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she is a principal investigator. While at UAMS, she had the opportunity to learn more about public health, which has encouraged her to pursue a Master of Public Health.

This summer D’Nyla completed four weeks at Tulane University's School of Medicine with the surgical department for the inaugural program titled "Introduction to the Medical Profession A Rotation to Empower Students." Dean said Tulane was very hands-on, and she completed research proposals, clinical rotations, and was able to scrub-in on a surgery. Recently D’Nyla assisted the MHHERC write a grant proposal to Power to Decide, a non-profit organization that works to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all. The proposal was successful and D’Nyla will serve as a student ambassador working with partners March of Dimes and Fathers Matter to promote the reproductive wellbeing of Black people and families in Greater New Orleans.

The Dillard Power to Decide Core Team consists of D’Nyla, Kayla Hennigan (Junior) and Jacques Detiege (Assessment & Analysis Director). In September the team will travel to Washington D.C., to attend the Reproductive Well-Being Shared Learning Collaborative where they will make a presentation about how they plan to work together to involve other potential birth partners to change the tide of health for New Orleans’ Black families.

D’Nyla is excited to work with Power to Decide and this experience is a reminder of why she chose to attend Dillard because it provides students with hands-on experience that can positively impact the community. 

The MHHERC, in conjunction with DePaul Community Health Center, Tulane University, Xavier University and Reproductive Health Impact is hosting an event during Black Breastfeeding Week on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The first 50 people to arrive will receive a free snack box. Black Breastfeeding Week was founded in 2013 to help address the high rates of racial disparities in breastfeeding, Black infant mortality, diet-related disease and the lack of diversity in the lactation field. The theme for this year’s Black Breastfeeding Week is “We Outside: Celebrating Connection and Our Communities.” To honor this theme, Dillard will screen the Birthing Justice Documentary in conjunction with Reproductive Health Impact (formerly NBEC). BIRTHING JUSTICE is a feature length documentary whose purpose is to discuss issues fueling the maternal health crisis within the African American community and advocate for best practices to enhance birthing equity for all women. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion. Click here to RSVP.

Dillard University

Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center

2601 Gentilly Blvd

PSB - Suite 307

New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

504.816.4001