The Mississippi IDeA Network of Biological Research Excellence held its inaugural Mississippi Health Disparities Conference on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi, MS. The conference brought together Mississippi State Department of Health officials, medical industry leaders, and students from INBRE’s summer scholar programs for presentations, workshops, and a research poster session.

MHD2021 featured a presentation by Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs concerning the effect of COVID-19 on Mississippi, particularly in the light of the new Delta variant of the virus and the health disparities that make its impact so drastic on the population. Additionally, My Brother’s Keeper, INBRE’s sister organization, offered vaccinations to locals and conference attendees for a $50 gift card through its Open Arms Healthcare Center branch.

MHD2021 boasted over 300 attendees and is considered a major success in paving the way for Mississippians to address health disparities in the state, such as diabetes and obesity. Furthermore, it helped to provide a focal point from which Mississippi medical leaders can fight the spread of COVID-19 within the state’s population.

Besides Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the conference featured keynote speakers Dr. Penny Ralston, director of the Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations at Florida State University, and Mississippi State Health Official Dr. Victor D. Sutton.

MHD2021 Program Book (right-click to save file)

For more information about MHD2021 click here.