February events to raise awareness for community health & equity
Each February, SIU School of Medicine hosts a series of events to honor Dr. Alonzo Kenniebrew, the first Black physician in the United States to build and operate a private surgical hospital. In 2024, the conference was renamed to also honor the late Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese, former SIU System executive director for diversity initiatives and a pioneer at SIU School of Medicine.
“Dr. Kenniebrew and Dr. McNeese were trailblazers and humanitarians in central Illinois,” said Dr. Wendi Wills El-Amin, associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion at SIU School of Medicine. “They were from different generations but both recognized the intrinsic values of education, compassion and collaboration. Now is an ideal time to remind everyone that when we work together to create strategies for better health for all, our communities are stronger for it.”
Dr. Yolanda Wimberly (left) will be the featured speaker for the kickoff week. She is senior vice president and chief health equity officer at Grady Health System and a board-certified physician in pediatrics and adolescent medicine. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. Wimberly will deliver the Kenniebrew Lecture, “From Awareness to Action,” at 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Memorial Learning Center (MLC), 228 West Miller St., Springfield.
Her audience will include members of SIU’s McNeese Physician Preparatory Pipeline Program (P4), comprised of high school students who pursue four years of training in a rigorous after-school educational program. P4 is a partnership between SIU Medicine and Springfield Public School District 186. P4’s 2025 contingent is the largest in the program’s history. Its graduates will be honored that evening.
The Kenniebrew-McNeese Health Equity Conference will be held from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, also at the MLC. It is designed for medical professionals and community members. Opening and closing plenary speakers, a panel lunch discussion and breakout sessions will offer information and insights on ways to make health care more accessible and improve outcomes for under-resourced populations. Conference registration and details can be found here. Guests should register by Feb. 7.
The Community Forum will be held at the MLC on Thursday, Feb. 27. The forum provides an opportunity for community members to have an open conversation about trust, race and health. The gathering begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast in the Nelson Family Auditorium. The program starts at 9 a.m. Area activists, social service providers and the general public are invited to attend.
The lecture and community forum are open to the general public. HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Memorial Health System and the SIU Foundation are underwriting the cost of the annual Kenniebrew events.
