University Hospitals presents Black History Month webinars

University Hospitals Brain Health and Memory Center will present a free Webinar series in honor of Black History Month every Thursday evening in February. The series begins Feb. 4, and will stream live on Zoom from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The series will be moderated by well-known television news anchor and commentator Leon Bibb

Each session will feature a brief historical talk followed by a presentation about medical information or social issues pertinent to the Black community.

“In 2020, we opened the Brain Health Clinic at the UH Otis Moss, Jr., Health Center,” said Alan Lerner, MD, Director of the UH Brain Health and Memory Center and Professor of Neurology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “In our continuing work to connect to the community, we are offering these sessions that look at some of the special history of the Fairfax community and significant medical and social issues faced by the community and our nation today.”

The UH Otis Moss, Jr. Health Center, 8819 Quincy Ave., has served the Fairfax community for more than 20 years. Fairfax is one of Cleveland’s poorest neighborhoods. The center was established in 1997 in close partnership with the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. It provides high-quality patient care in a spiritually supportive environment.

The Brain Health Clinic is the physical site for the Community Brain Health Initiative which is a partnership between UH and CWRU. Under Dr. Lerner’s leadership, the Brain Health Clinic provides access to brain health care for underserved and at-risk neighbors; improves access to clinical drug studies and research program recruitment to ensure minority representation in these trials; promotes community empowerment by providing patients and their caregivers with the tools needed to understand and manage their diagnoses. The Brain Health Clinic works with organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association of Cleveland to help patients and caregivers receive the support that can help them make informed decisions about their care and remove the stigma associated with so many brain health diseases and disorders.

Carla Harwell, MD, Medical Director of the Otis Moss, Jr. Health Center, said, “We hope that people will join us for these Webinars. It is a chance to learn fascinating history of our community as well as an opportunity to ask questions and get answers from experts. The COVID pandemic has taught us how important it is to have a community for social support and a place where reliable information can be made available and discussed.”

To register for the Webinars and for more information:

https://uhhospitals.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XShGKvwYREGg4xmk3OuTsg

The entire series is below.

• Feb. 4, 2021, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Week 1: Legacy of Otis Moss Health Center in Fairfax

Talks: “Historical Celebration: Florence Bundy Fairfax Legacy” and “Legacy of Otis Moss”

Speakers: Carla Harwell, MD, Medical Director, UH Otis Moss, Jr. Health Center

Alan J. Lerner, MD, Director of the UH Brain Health and Memory Center

Followed by Questions and Answers

• Feb. 11, 2021, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Week 2: Inequities in African American Community

Talks: “Historical Celebration: The Cleveland Home for Aged Colored People”

and “Inequities in African American Community”

Speakers: Lolita McDavid, MD, Medical Director of Child Health and Advocacy at UH

John Dwyer, President – Global Alzheimer Platform

Followed by Questions and Answers

• Feb. 18, 2021, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Week 3: Inequities in African American Family

Talks: “Historical Celebration: Brain Health Genealogy” and “Impact of Alzheimer Disease on Family”

Speakers: Jada Houston, Clinical Research Specialist

Rochelle Long, Nyoka & Nadia Seymore, Caregivers

Jonathan Haines, PhD, Director, Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology,

Chair, CWRU Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences and

the Mary W. Sheldon M.D. Professor of Genomic Sciences

Followed by Questions and Answers

• Feb. 25, 2021, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Week 4: Empowerment and Advocacy

Talks: “Historical Celebration: Soloman Carter Fuller, MD – forefather of Alzheimer’s disease” and “Empowerment”

Speakers: Cynthia Davenport, Program Manager for Education, Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter

Alan J. Lerner, MD, Director of the UH Brain Health and Memory Center

Followed by Questions and Answers

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