Pediatrics conference will focus on Indigenous health

Donald Warne, MD, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, will speak on “American Indian Child and Family Health Equity” on May 19 at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

Dr. Warne will speak as part of a UNMC Department of Pediatrics conference titled “Indigenous Health, Policy and Equity: Implications for Child Health and Wellbeing,” held from 8 a.m. to noon.

Following Dr. Warne’s talk, Heather Sauyaq Jean Kwamboka Gordon, PhD, will give a presentation on policies that contribute to racial and ethnic health inequalities and potential solutions for Indigenous children, families and communities. Dr. Gordon is a research scientist in youth development and Indigenous children and families at Child Trends.

The schedule also includes a moderated panel discussing local Indigenous health, health care policy, practices and experiences and a networking lunch with small group discussions.

The talks by Drs. Warne and Gordon, as well as the moderated panel discussion, will take place at Children’s Glow Auditorium. Lunch and small group discussions will take place in the LL3 conference room in the Hubbard Center for Children on Children’s campus.

In-person attendance is strongly encouraged. A virtual option for select segments is available for those who cannot attend in person. A light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Please click here to register for the conference by Friday, May 12, if planning to attend in person.

The third annual DEI conference is organized by the department’s antiracism committee.

Geetanjali Rathore, MD, committee co-chair and associate professor in the UNMC Division of Pediatric Neurology, “Our committee members realized that health challenges of Indigenous people was a topic with great importance nationally and locally, and yet, it is a massive blind spot for most people. We are so excited to learn from our distinguished presenters and panel members.”