Diversity & Community Health Equity
UI Health Celebrates Diversity
Inclusion Calendar
UI Health CHAMPIONS
UI Health Honors Black History Month
Women's History Month
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Disability Pride & Awareness
National Hispanic Heritage Month
UI Health Honors Native American Heritage Month: Honoring Resilience, Healing, and Heritage
Jewish American Heritage Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Filipino American Heritage Month
UI Health Honors Black History Month: From Roots to Resilience–Black History, Medicine, and the Stride for Health Equity
This February, UI Health honors Black History Month by examining the history, resilience, and contributions of Black communities within medicine and healthcare. From early healing traditions to the long-standing fight against systemic inequities, this event connects historical context to present-day healthcare practice—helping us better understand how history shapes trust, access, and outcomes today.
History That Informs Care Today
Black communities have preserved healing knowledge across generations, often in response to exclusion from formal medical systems. At the same time, Black patients have experienced profound harm through unethical medical practices and structural racism—legacies that continue to influence healthcare interactions and outcomes.
From Roots to Resilience will begin with a structured presentation followed by a fireside chat that examines how this history informs modern healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and institutional responsibility.
Attendees Will:
- Gain historical context for understanding medical mistrust and health disparities
- Learn about pioneering Black physicians and institutions that transformed medicine and access to care
- Reflect on how historical inequities continue to shape patient experiences today
- Identify ways healthcare professionals can strengthen trust, dignity, and equity in care delivery
Featured Event: From Roots to Resilience—Black History, Medicine, and the Stride for Health Equity
- Date: February 18, 2026
- Time: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM (CT)
- Location: Hospital Room 1310 or Online via Zoom
- Register today!
Presentation + Fireside Chat Topics
Join healthcare leaders and subject-matter experts for a presentation followed by a fireside chat exploring:
- Early Practices & Folk Medicine
- and African American healing traditions that supported survival, resilience, and community care.
- Systemic Exploitation & Medical Mistrust
- A historical examination of unethical medical practices and structural racism—and how these legacies shape trust today.
- Pioneering Black Physicians & Institutions
- The leaders, hospitals, and training institutions that expanded access, education, and representation in medicine.
- The Fight for Integration & Modern Impact
- How desegregation and advocacy reshaped healthcare—and why disparities persist, alongside paths forward.
This session moves beyond awareness toward context, accountability, and action. Participants will leave with deeper insight into the historical roots of health inequities and clearer understanding of how to apply this knowledge in clinical and institutional settings.
Event Flow
- 11:30 AM – 12 PM: Welcome & Arrival
- 12 – 1 PM: Main Presentation
- 1 – 1:45 PM: Fireside Chat
- 1:45 – 2:30 PM: Cultural Celebration & Networking
- Lunch will be provided
At UI Health, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care. We invite staff, clinicians, students, and community partners to join us in honoring Black History Month by learning from the past and strengthening our collective stride toward health equity.
For additional information or to get involved, visit ODCHE.UIHealth.Care or contact the Office of Diversity and Community Health Equity at UIHDiversity@uic.edu.
Archives
Read more about the achievements and contributions of African Americans in our community throughout the years.
