This conference is developed to provide proactive leadership in addressing the vital need to improve the health of our nation through strategic HBCU engagement. The overarching aim for this initiative is to bring more minority scientists and clinicians into the mainstream; provide collaborative interactions among HBCU institutions; and provide interprofessional best practice strategies to identify and overcome barriers to improving educational and health outcomes.

The conference is hosted by Charles R. Drew University (President David M. Carlisle, PhD, MD), Howard University (President Wayne A.I. Fredrick, MD, MBA, FACS), Meharry Medical College (President James E.K Hildreth, PhD, MD), and Morehouse School of Medicine (President Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD). It will include invited keynote presentations by Dr. Marc Nivet, Chief Diversity Officer for the Association of American Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and Dr. Ivory Toldson, Executive Director, White House Initiative on HBCUs, among others.