KINGSTON, R.I. — September 24, 2012 — The University of Rhode Island’s 16th annual Diversity Week begins Oct. 1 with a focus on the impact of diversity on health care, politics, and money. Dozens of programs run through Friday, Oct. 5.
Dr. Joia Mukherjee, medical director of Partners In Health, will present the keynote address at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 in Edwards Auditorium. She has been involved in health care access and human rights issues since 1989 in the United States, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the countries of the former Soviet Union, will address Partners In Health’s mission to deliver hope for the poorest of the poor and make the case for health care as a human right.
Dr. Mukherjee’s strong sense of social justice propelled her to pursue training in internal medicine, pediatrics, and infectious disease, as well as public health, so that she could use those skills to combat the AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics in developing countries. Since 2000, she has done so through her work with Partners in Health, the international charity affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Her talk is part of the University’s fall honors colloquium and is sponsored by the Multicultural Center, Lifespan, Inc., MetLife Auto and Home, and the URI Office of Community, Equity and Diversity.
In addition to the address by Dr. Mukherjee, URI’s Diversity Week highlights include:
• A talk on Monday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. will examine research about the Impact of Diversity Week and multicultural competence among URI undergraduates;
• On Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 12:30 p.m., “Circle the Wagons? Native American Images and Avatar” is one topic to be addressed as well as the Multicultural Center Dialogue Project: Deconstructing and Problem-Solving Issues of Diversity on Campus;
• A focus on “Understanding Diversity in the Workplace” for events throughout the day on Wednesday, Oct. 3 and with “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard,” a lecture at 5 p.m. by award-winning author Lesléa Newman;
• On Thursday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., “Africa: Destroying Myths and Fastening Reality” is the focus of discussion and that evening will feature “Continental Pulse: The Cultural Show” at 7:30 p.m. in Edwards Auditorium;
• On Friday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m., Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts will facilitate a discussion about Healthcare Policy in RI in the 21st Century, and a series of Lifespan workshops will be held throughout the day.
Most of these events and dozens more take place at the URI Multicultural Center. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete program, including all sponsors please visit uri.edu/mcc or contact Mailee Kue at 874-5829, maileekue@uri.edu.
Download the complete schedule of events at tinyurl.com/div2012.
Find more information about the University’s Honors Colloquium at uri.edu/hc.
*Photo of Dr. Joia Mukherjee in Haiti.