In case you missed it: Recordings available of campus diversity events now available

The UTHealth Houston community featured two diversity and inclusion programming events on Jan. 19. Videos of the discussions are available to any student, faculty, staff, or trainee who may have missed the presentations.

“Spiritual Determinants of Health: Is it Time to Prescribe Prayer?”

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) held the first Diversity and Equity Virtual Speaker Series event of 2022.

Trevor M. Bibler, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, presented “Spiritual Determinants of Health: Is it Time to Prescribe Prayer?”

A full recording of the presentation will be made available soon on the McGovern Medical School's DEI webpage. Previous presentations about DEI can be found online through Panopto once logged in with your UTHealth Houston ID and password. The discussion was an academic look into whether religion should be considered a determinant of health, much like race, age, ethnicity, and access to care.

Bibler discussed if it was religion itself, or practices the faithful perform, that determine health outcomes. Examples included abstaining from alcohol, maintaining a vegetarian diet, and regular meditation or prayer, among other factors. He also discussed various studies on the topic, and complicating factors within the research.

“Leading the Change for Gender Equality — a Global Perspective”

The UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness Council recently presented its virtual 2022 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Week keynote speech.

Ebtissam M. Al-Madi, BDS, MSD, presented “Leading the Change for Gender Equality — a Global Perspective.” Al-Madi is a professor in the Department of Restorative Dental Sciences at King Saud University’s College of Dentistry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A full recording of the presentation can be found at Go.uth.edu/Diversity2022.

Al-Madi discussed women’s opportunity for education and career choices in Saudi Arabia and her journey to change the environment of inclusiveness and representation of all genders, nationalities, disability, and religion, and invited questions from the virtual audience.