D4 The Afro-American November 30, 2024 - December 6, 2024
Howard University hosts 15th Annual International Conference on Stigma By Patricia McDougall Special to the AFRO
Lisa Fager, master of ceremonies of the 2024 International Stigma Conference at Howard University, welcomes attendees.
The 15th Annual International Conference on Stigma, hosted by the Howard University Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, took place Nov. 19-21 at the institution’s Blackburn Center. The conference included both in-person and virtual offerings, with more than 450 registrants. Each year, the event addresses health-related stigma and discrimination with a special emphasis Cynthia Gipson, a retired family advocate for sickle cell disease at Howard on HIV, mental health,
Felix Sirls (left), an HIV counselor, takes part in the “Facing Their Fears” panel, along with Pedro Benitez, a bilingual community leader, and Vernon “Rasmir” Thomas, a community health worker.
Barry Sermons moderates the “Facing their Fears” panel at the Annual International Conference on Stigma, held Nov. 19-21.
University Hospital, speaks at the 2024 conference on stigma in the HIV community.
substance abuse stigma and other health conditions like sickle cell, epilepsy and obesity. Healthcare professionals joined with researchers, governmental organizations and community members in efforts to cut down on stigma. The theme for this year’s event was “Stigma No More, It’s 2024!,” and featured an art contest, a scientific abstracts contest, and more than 25 sessions and panels. Topics of discussion included “Facing their Fears,”
Charles Carrington Jr. (left), a sickle cell warrior, participates in a panel titled, “Trust of Mistrust: Sickle Cell Warriors Unraveling Medical Mistrust,” alongside Dr. Sohail Rana, a professor who also specializes in pediatric infectious disease at Howard University Hospital, and Cherrelle Esekie, a sickle cell survivor.
Shown here at the 15th Annual International Conference on Stigma, Maranda Ward (left), assistant professor at George Washington University; Reggie Smith, executive director of the Reginald and Dionne Smith Foundation; Dionne Smith, deputy director of Reginald and Dionne Smith Foundation; Cecilia Chung, a senior advisor for the Transgender Law Center, and David Fawcett, a psychotherapist.
a heterosexual men’s panel, “Trust of Mistrust: Sickle Cell Warriors Unraveling Medical Mistrust,” and a plenary session featuring long term survivors of HIV. Marvin Anderson was also present to perform his rap anthem, “Living Beyond the Red,” which won second prize in the 2024 Stigma Art Contest.
Marvin Anderson, musician, speaker and author, performs live at the 2024 stigma conference.
Dr. Jean “TuTu” Purchas-Tulloch, a retiree of Howard University enjoys the 2024 Stigma Conference at her alma mater. Photos by Patricia McDougall
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