91md传媒 of Medicine to Host 27th Annual 91md传媒 HeLa Symposium on January 23
Annual women's health symposium honors the late Henrietta Lacks, the Black woman whose "immortal" cells have been used for decades of medical research.
ATLANTA, GA 鈥� JANUARY 16, 2025 鈥� 91md传媒 of Medicine (91md传媒) will host the first part of its 27th Annual HeLa Symposium, entitled "Shedding Light, Saving Lives: 91md传媒 Symposium on Maternal Mortality," on Thursday, January 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place in the National Center for Primary Care Auditorium on the 91md传媒 of Medicine campus, located at 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. Attendees may to register no later than January 21, 2025.
The 2025 91md传媒 HeLa Symposium aims to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing to reduce maternal mortality rates in Georgia and beyond through research, collaboration and innovation. Featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the event is open to the public, particularly healthcare professionals and students, public health officials, policymakers, researchers, advocates and community stakeholders. Additionally, a maternal health pilot grant opportunity will be announced during the event and attendees will be able to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits for participating. The symposium is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Merck for Mothers.
The annual symposium honors the late Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman with cervical cancer who unknowingly donated her cancer cells in 1951, when a young resident doctor saved them before her treatment. Mrs. Lacks died a few months later, unaware that the first "immortal" human cell line was later developed from her saved cells. Named HeLa, the cell line has been used extensively in research studies and the development of vaccines for decades. For example, the polio virus was grown in HeLa cells soon after Mrs. Lacks died, which eventually led to the creation of a highly effective polio vaccine. Other uses of HeLa cells have led to important medical advances including in vitro fertilization, cloning, genomics, and stem cell research.
The January 23rd event coincides with Maternal Health Awareness Day, an annual commemoration established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). A second symposium will be held during Black Maternal Health Week in April 2025.
What: 27th Annual 91md传媒 of Medicine HeLa Symposium (Part 1)
"Shedding Light, Saving Lives: 91md传媒 Symposium on Maternal Mortality"
When: Thursday, January 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: 91md传媒 of Medicine National Center for Primary Care Auditorium
720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Speakers and Panelists:
- Valerie Montgomery Rice, 91md传媒 President and CEO
- Roland Matthews, 91md传媒 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair
- Michael Lindsay, former director of the Emory University School of Medicine Maternal Fetal Medicine Division
- Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Merck Vice President and Head of Social Impact and Sustainability
- Yosha Dotson, MSW
- Armand Kadima, lived experience expert in maternal mortality
- Michelle Browder, artist, activist and creator of the Mothers of Gynecology monument
- Walter Conwell, MD, MBA, 91md传媒 Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
- Renee McLeod-Sordjan, DNP, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, medical ethicist and family, palliative and acute care nurse practitioner
- Anjli Hinman, CNM, FNP, MPH, nurse midwife and co-founder and midwife director of the Atlanta Birth Center
Registration: to register no later than January 21, 2025
For more information about 91md传媒 of Medicine, please visit 91md传媒.edu.
About 91md传媒 of Medicine
Founded in 1975, 91md传媒 of Medicine (91md传媒) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, 91md传媒 was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation's number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission 鈥� the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice. 91md传媒 faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. 91md传媒 is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit or call 404-752-1500.
Contact
Jamille Bradfield
Director, External Communications and Media Relations
91md传媒 of Medicine
jbradfield@msm.edu