Loma Linda University Campus
By Hillary Angel - April 16, 2021

To encourage action and education on health disparities, the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine (CHDMM) at Loma Linda University School of Medicine is hosting a webinar series as part of National Minority Health Month.

Led by CHDMM faculty, the webinar series will cover health topics such as chronic diseases (obesity and diabetes), cancer (prostate, breast, and gastrointestinal) and academic programs to increase diversity in the biomedical field.

Wednesday, April 21, at noon

Topic: Diverse Biomedical Workforce

Addressing the importance of diversity in the biomedical workforce

  • Moderator and Panelist: Marino De Leon, PhD, director of the CHDMM and professor of physiology
  • Panelist: Elaine Vanterpool, PhD, chair and professor of biological sciences at Oakwood University
  • Discussants: Daisy De Leon, PhD, assistant to the dean for Diversity, professor of physiology and Pharmacology, and member of the CHDMM; Carlos A. Casiano, PhD, professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and associate director of the CHDMM

Thursday, April 22 at noon

Topic: Chronic Diseases Health Disparities

An overview of obesity and diabetes and the contributing factors

  • Moderator and Panelist: Johnny Figueroa, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and member of the CHDMM
  • Panelist: Marino De Leon, PhD, director of the CHDMM and professor of physiology
  • Discussants:  Susanne Montgomery, PhD, professor, associate dean for research, Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health, and member of the CHDMM; William Langridge, PhD, professor of biochemistry and member of the CHDMM

Thursday, April 29 at noon

Topic: Cancer Health Disparities

An overview of cancer health disparities affecting minority groups 

  • Moderator and Panelist: Carlos A. Casiano, PhD, professor of microbiology and  molecular genetics and associate director of the CHDMM
  • Panelists: Daisy De Leon, PhD, assistant to the dean for diversity, professor of physiology and pharmacology, and member of the CHDMM; Nathan R. Wall, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and member of the CHDMM
  • Discussants:  Penelope Duerksen-Hughes, PhD, chair and associate dean for basic sciences, professor of biochemistry, and member of the CHDMM; Frankis Almaguel, MD/PhD (’10), assistant professor of nuclear medicine and member of the CHDMM; Eileen Brantley, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and member of the CHDMM
  • The CHDMM investigators are actively conducting research to identify and understand the contributors to health disparities including biological, environmental, socioeconomic or cultural factors.

The community is invited to join the webinars and are free to register at medicine.llu.edu/chdmm.  

Webinar Details:
Zoom Webinar ID:   915 9255 8185
Passcode:     285020