Health inequities in American society are salient and unfortunate outgrowths of historical systems of inequality based largely on race. We, at the Institute for Common Power, understand that racialized disparities in healthcare and health outcomes must be acknowledged to be eliminated. To this end, we are committed to offering educational programming and resources that serve to address and analyze implicit bias in medicine in an effort to encourage the dismantling of inequities in American healthcare systems. Education can and must lead to Action.

Addressing Racial Bias in Medicine

Learn more about racial disparities and biases in medicine and what you can do to make a difference.

We are pleased and excited to partner with the University of Washington Department of Medicine bring a lecture series, free to the public, that features medical professionals and others who are working to disrupt, expose, and dismantle racial bias in medicine.

Upcoming Lectures 

Past Lectures

“Unveiling Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States”

Angie Roumain, RN, MPH, CPHQ Vice President of Medical Operations, Denova Collaborative Health

This presentation explores maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States including health complications and adverse outcomes that can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum. Poor maternal health outcomes disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous women and women of color, highlighting a stark and deeply rooted problem in our healthcare system.

Angela Roumain is a dedicated healthcare professional with a strong background in nursing and a passion for advancing racial health equity. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from The University of Arizona, Angela brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and public health knowledge to the forefront of healthcare disparities discussions. Angela currently holds the role of Vice President of Medical Operations at Denova Collaborative Health, an integrated health care organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The Impact of the Pandemic and the ‘Racial Reckoning’ on Health Outcomes and American Democracy”

In this panel discussion, three of the editors/contributors (Merritt, Williams, Tsai) to the anthology, Afterlife: A Collective History of Loss and Redemption in Pandemic America will join Minnesota Community Care executive officer, Rueben Moore, to discuss the impact of the Pandemic and the “Racial Reckoning “on everything from healthcare to the health of American democracy. The title (After Life) is an affirmation that even in our suspended half-living during lockdowns and quarantines, we are a nation of survivors—with an unprecedented chance to rebuild society in a more equitable way.

Yohuru Williams, Ph.D., Distinguished University Chair and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota.

Keri Leigh Merritt, Ph.D., Award winning historian, writer, filmmaker, and activist based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reuben Moore, EdD, MBA, is president and executive officer for Minnesota Community Care.

Robert L. Tsai, J.D., Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law, where he teaches courses in constitutional law, presidential leadership, and individual rights.

David Horne, MD, MPH, (he/him), Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, Associate Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Department of Medicine, Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Health, University of Washington

"Unveiling the Political Determinants of Health: Impact, Challenges, and Solutions: Understanding the Intersection of Politics and Public Health"

Dr. Omatola Gordon-Rose, DrPH, MPH, GCBM, CLC

This lecture delves into the intricate relationship between politics and healthcare, uncovering the root causes of disparities in access and outcomes. By exploring the impact of political determinants on health equity, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in providing equitable healthcare. Through a blend of theoretical analysis and real-world case studies, this lecture equips learners with actionable solutions to address these pressing issues.

Acknowledged as a subject matter expert in a variety of disease areas, including diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and more, Dr. Gordon-Rose's extensive experience in developing evaluation plans and measurable outcomes has been critical in assessing the impact of public health strategies. This, coupled with her ability to coordinate activities with diverse communities and secure the implementation of effective public health program strategies, underscores her exceptional leadership and expertise. In founding OGR Public Health Career Coaching and Consulting (PHC3) L.L.C, Dr. Gordon-Rose has expanded her mission to cultivate highly qualified, passionate, and innovative public health professionals, while also devising groundbreaking solutions to the most pressing public health challenges.

"The History and Future of Black Physicians in Medicine"

Walter D. Conwell, MD, MBA- Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Morehouse School of Medicine

Description: This presentation will explore U.S. medical education in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. We will address the creation of black medical schools, the policy forces that lead to the demise of many of these institutions, and the exciting opportunities which lay ahead. In recalling this history, we will explore the impact of policy decisions on social factors and health outcomes.

Dr. Walter Conwell joined the Morehouse School of Medicine in July 2021 as the inaugural Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and also serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development. A graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Conwell received his bachelor of science degree from Florida A&M University and master of business administration degree from the University of Colorado Business School. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, and Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Conwell has published peer-reviewed articles on various topics related to medical education, health economics, and health equity.

January 9-13, 2025 - Truth and Purpose Learning Experience for Healthcare Professionals

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January 9-13, 2025 - Truth and Purpose Learning Experience for Healthcare Professionals 〰️

Truth and Purpose Learning Experience for Healthcare Professionals

Unlocking a Path to Health Equity: A Journey Through History and Recognizing Current Change Makers

April, 2025

At the Institute for Common Power, we recognize the urgent need to confront and dismantle institutionalized racism within the U.S. healthcare system. To this end, we work in partnership with established medical organizations to expose and eliminate racial disparities in health care by providing education, resources, and support to healthcare professionals and marginalized communities. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering and we are excited to introduce our Truth and Purpose Learning Experience for Healthcare Professionals, set to occur in January 2025.  


The Institute for Common Power Truth and Purpose Learning Experience for Healthcare Professionals is a journey like no other.  Designed to take people in various healthcare occupations through spaces in the American South where structural racism has impacted and defined the lives of countless people for generations–spaces where, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, people have historically worked to create change.

Understanding the Journey

By diving into the historical roots of this country and subsequently healthcare disparities, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and insights necessary to drive lasting change. We will also meet with prominent leaders and organizations at the forefront of advancing health equity, such as (but not limited to):

· The Equal Justice Initiative Healthcare Center. The EJI’s health branch which provides free health care services and additional care to people released from Alabama prisons to promote successful re-entry. The EJI health center also provides free care to low-income and impoverished citizens in Alabama.

· Artist/Activist Michelle Browder. Ms. Browder has dedicated much of her life’s work to honoring the victims of J. Marion Sims, through her monument “The Mothers of Gynecology.” She recently opened a mobile healthcare clinic that focuses on the needs of economically marginalized women in the Montgomery area.  She is currently hard at work preparing to open her teaching clinic and museum to serve the city of Montgomery with a focus on the reproductive health of Black women.

The journey is led by Dr. Terry Anne Scott and Dr. David Domke, leading scholars in the fields of history and political science.  Foot soldiers from the Modern Civil Rights Movement will also travel with us during this eminently important journey through history, through self, and through change.  

Many of the places we visit will allow us to examine the long history of people of African descent in this country. We will also explore the modern American Civil Rights Movement, few places are more important than the locations we will visit. Atlanta, Georgia, is the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, legendary organizer Ms. Ella Baker, former civil rights hero and U.S. Representative John Lewis, and now U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock and national voting rights leader Stacey Abrams. We will begin our learning tour there and then will spend most of our time in Alabama in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma – a geographical triangle in an east-to-west strip of the South known as the “Black Belt,” named originally for the rich soil coloring but that over time has taken on reference to the African American population there that has been a catalyst for social change in America. We will meet with the organization of the Equal Justice Initiative as well as key individuals including:

  •  Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a member of the inner circle for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., international nonviolence leader, and Chair today of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Board

  • Joanne Bland, a Bloody Sunday marcher at age 11, founder today of Journeys for the Soul and leader of the campaign to create “Footsoldiers Park” in Selma.

  • Charles Mauldin, a youth leader in the Modern Civil Rights Movement

  • Many additional foot soldiers, scholars, medical professionals, and others who are working to create visible and lasting change as related to healthcare, mass incarceration, the teaching of truth, and much more.

Join the Movement

By participating in our Truth and Purpose Learning Experience, you will not only gain invaluable historical knowledge but also become an agent of change in the healthcare field. Our goal is to empower you to identify and eradicate inequities, biases, and racism in medicine, fostering a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all people. We invite you to apply! 

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Find out more about the Institute here!