Bringing together the joyous voices of the Dallas Street Choir and one of the country’s most renowned leaders in improving diversity in medical education and health care equity, UT Southwestern’s recent Black History Month event highlighted the progress that has been made over the past half-century while addressing the gaps that remain.

Dr. Paul Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Radiology, left, attended the Black History Month event for which his father, Dr. Louis Sullivan, right, was the keynote speaker.

The Feb. 6 event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, founding Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine and 17^th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush. Dr. Louis Sullivan’s son, Dr. Paul Sullivan, is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at UT Southwestern and attended the event.

The elder Dr. Sullivan’s talk, titled “The Long Road to Health Equity in America,” explored the gaps in health equity between African-Americans and other groups in the United States, as well as the need for more black physicians.

“Our country was founded on high principles, big ideas, that everyone is valued, and everyone has something to contribute, and therefore everyone as a human being should be respected and honored,” Dr. Sullivan told the packed crowd. “As a country, we haven’t lived up to that. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that we’re still making efforts to improve.”

Dr. Sullivan explained how race-based gaps in health care have declined in recent years but are still present. He said further progress could be made through training more black physicians who, in addition to having the appropriate scientific knowledge, might also better understand the specific health needs and concerns of the black population and be more approachable.

“The physician-patient relationship is sacred and includes dedication, empathy, and humanism at its core,” Dr. Sullivan said. “When that is present, we reach our most noble achievements in services to others.”

Dr. Louis Sullivan, founding dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine and 17th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, delivered a talk titled “The Long Road to Health Equity in America.”

“Diversity and inclusiveness advance our success in all of our core missions,” said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern, as he welcomed those attending the event on South Campus. “It is a fundamental value of our campus, and we are proud of what we have achieved, but always mindful of how far there is yet to go. I celebrate all who embrace it and work to sustain and enhance the breadth and depth of diversity and inclusion at UT Southwestern.”

The event opened with an inspirational song from the Dallas Street Choir, a nonprofit organization which is comprised of members of the local homeless community. Founded in 2014, the Choir aims to provide members musicianship training, an environment to promote accountability, and a community that offers compassion and hope. Ending the event, the audience stood and joined the choir in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”