Dean LaVeist awarded the 2020 Carole W. Samuelson Endowed Lecture in Public Health Practice

Dr. Thomas A. LaVeist, dean and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity at Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, was recently awarded the 2020 Carole W. Samuelson Endowed Lecture in Public Health Practice.

This lectureship is one of the most highly regarded endowed lectureships at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and Dr. LaVeist has been awarded this lectureship due to his research and work focused on race and racism through a public health lens.

Throughout his research, LaVeist seeks to cultivate an orienting framework in the development of policy and interventions to address race disparities in health-related outcomes. His research and writing has focused on three broad thematic research questions: first, identifying the social and behavioral factors that predict the timing of various related health outcomes, including access and utilization of health services, mortality, and entrance into nursing homes; second, identifying the social and behavioral factors that explain race differences in health outcomes; and third, identifying the impact of social policy on the health and quality of life of African Americans. His work includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

“It is an honor to have been selected to deliver this prestigious lectureship at one of the premiere public health schools,” said Dr. Thomas A. LaVeist. “I look forward to engaging the UAB faculty and students and discussing with them the importance of health equity for the future of public health.”

“Dean LaVeist was studying and writing about race and racism through a public health lens 30 years ago,” said Paul Erwin, Dean of the UAB School of Public Health. “His work has significantly advanced our empirical understanding of the health impacts of racism and given our ongoing challenges with race in the U.S., his work is now as important as ever. We are honored that Dean LaVeist has accepted this endowed lectureship award.”

The Carole W. Samuelson Endowed Lecture in Public Health Practice was named in honor and memory of Dr. Carole W. Samuelson, former director and health officer for the Jefferson County Health Department (JCDH) in Birmingham, Ala. This endowed lectureship honors Dr. Samuelson for her outstanding service through years of devoted commitment to the JCDH as well as many other community and statewide organizations interested in providing quality health care. Throughout her professional and community activities, Samuelson led with diligence and innovation while always placing the public first. This lectureship was created to honor her passion for excellence as well as to continue her tradition of intellectual innovation and community involvement.

The date for LaVeist's lecture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has not yet been set.