For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey, 901/678-2843

The University of Memphis will host a panel discussion highlighting the impact of women in health care in our community. “Healing the Community: The Impact of Women in Healthcare” will be held Wednesday, June 9, at noon in the second floor study area of the Ned R. McWherter Library on the U of M campus.

The event is free; registration is not required. Parking is available in the Zach Curlin parking garage.

The forum will cover such topics as breaking down barriers of racism and sexism in medicine; confronting glass ceilings and creating new opportunities; bringing different perspectives to the profession, highlighting issues such as the connection between poverty and illness; and working for equity in salary and career advancement in medical schools and throughout health care.

Anita Vaughn, administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, will be the moderator. Panelists will be Dr. Marcia Bowden, an internal medicine physician; Dr. Deepa Bhojwani, faculty member at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Dr. Carolyn Speros, associate professor of nursing at the U of M; Dr. Angela Watson, an internal medicine physician with Complete Health Care Center; Dr. Linda Lazar, professor of pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Michaelia Sturdivant, director of integrated health for the Church Health Center; and Dr. Pat Speck, public health nursing option coordinator at the UTHSC College of Nursing.

The event is presented by the University Libraries with the support of Friends of the University Libraries and in collaboration with the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. Other partners include the U of M’s Center for Research on Women, the Loewenberg School of Nursing and the City of Memphis.

The panel discussion is presented in conjunction with a traveling exhibit of Memphis Public Library, “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians.” It was developed by the Exhibition Program of the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health. The American Medical Women’s Association provided additional support.

“Health care is so important in our community. We are delighted to support the Memphis Public Library and Memphis women in health care by sponsoring this panel of accomplished women who work in this critical field,” said Dr. Sylverna Ford, dean of University Libraries.