Author and Health Care Equity Advocate Dr. Uché Blackstock to Discuss Racism in Medicine

Tickets available for “In Community Speaker Series” event in Norwalk hosted by the Fairfield County Equity Lab and Connecticut Public

NORWALK, CT (Jan. 10, 2024) Connecticut residents can hear first-hand about the journey of groundbreaking Dr. Uché Blackstock — as well as insights from her new book, LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine — on February 29 as part of Fairfield County Equity Lab’s second “In Community” speaker series in partnership with Connecticut Public.

As an ER physician and later a professor of academic medicine, Dr. Blackstock has had an insider’s view on the stark systemic barriers that Black patients and physicians face.

In 2019, she resolved to do something about it, walking away from her prestigious post at New York University to focus on launching Advancing Health Equity, a nonprofit with a mission to close the gap in racial health inequities. Later, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, she returned to urgent care work, where she again witnessed deep inequities faced by people of color – an experience that only strengthened her resolve to break down systemic barriers.

“Dr. Blackstock’s experiences and expertise can help us understand the racial inequities that still exist, despite how far we have come along in medicine and technology,” said Mendi Blue Paca, President and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “More importantly, she will empower us to be part of the change that will make our community a better place to live for everyone.”

“Connecticut Public is excited to partner with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to shine a light on health care disparities in our state and nationwide,” said Mark G. Contreras, President and CEO of Connecticut Public. “We’re hopeful that through discussions like these, solutions to minimize these disparities can emerge.”

At the Feb. 29 event, Dr. Blackstock will be in conversation with Lucy Nalpathanchil, a longtime public radio journalist at Connecticut Public and now Vice President of Community Engagement for the media organization. The event will be held at the Wall Street Theatre in Norwalk and no-cost tickets are available.

Receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Publishers Weekly, New York Times-bestselling authors, as well as national book award-winning authors, LEGACY draws from Dr. Blackstock’s experiences and expertise to help connect the dots for the public, policy makers and institutional leaders to understand the history and magnitude of racial health inequities.

“At its heart, LEGACY is a call to action for every single reader, regardless of their background or their profession,” said Dr. Blackstock. “We all have a part to play in making this country a more equitable and healthier place to live for Black people and people of color. My hope is that LEGACY will create a movement of people who feel galvanized to advance health equity.”

ABOUT THE SERIES
The “In Community” speaker series events are designed to ignite fresh perspectives, inspire actionable solutions, and foster collaboration among individuals, organizations, and community leaders. Each event features compelling conversations with thought leaders and social advocates who are actively engaged in addressing the pressing issues facing our region and our country at large. The series is co-hosted by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and Connecticut Public.

Event Details
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Wall Street Theatre, Norwalk, CT
Event info and tickets: fccfoundation.org/Legacy24

About The Fairfield County Equity Lab:
The Equity Lab is a new and growing community resource for equity-centered learning, connection, and innovation through events, workshops, research projects and more. The Equity Lab builds bridges, bringing people together to ideate, collaborate and commit to community improvement. It is powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation which works closely with community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to address challenges and identify opportunities to create a Fairfield County where every person has an equitable opportunity to thrive.

About Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public is the only state-wide, community-supported public media service, reaching over one million people weekly through radio, television, and digital. Through our mission to inform, educate, and inspire, we connect residents to quality journalism, storytelling, and experiences by amplifying the voices of our diverse communities. Connecticut Public is located in Hartford, CT with studios at Gateway Community College in New Haven, CT and Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.

Media and sponsorship questions may be directed to:
Krista Carnes | kcarnes@fccfoundation.org | 203.750.3242
Publicity materials and graphics available here.