2018 OHDR Annual Retreat

By Sumedha G. Penheiter • July 31, 2018

Featuring Keynotes by Kimberly Jacob Arriola, PhD, and Pernessa Seele, PhD.

Tuesday-Wednesday, August 7-8, 2018

What are the attitudes of diverse populations toward genetic research results?

Do patients who are American Indian face unique barriers to kidney transplantation?

Is it difficult to recruit minorities for research studies?

This Retreat brings together staff from across Mayo Clinic to discuss health disparities, to learn about resources and research at Mayo, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

 This year’s Keynote, who kicks off Day One, will be Kimberly Arriola, PhD, Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Public Health, and Researcher, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University. Day One also includes scientific presentations, health disparities programmatic updates, and an important session entitled, “Increasing Participation of Underserved Populations in Research.” Day Two includes an enterprise-wide health equity update, with leadership from all three shields, and a unique engagement session entitled, “Healthcare Modes of Delivery as a Means of Reducing Disparities.” For this session, OHDR is pleased to feature, among other presenters, Pernessa Seele, PhD, founder and CEO of The Balm in Gilead, Inc., which works to reduce health disparities of people of the African Diaspora through partnership with their faith institutions.

The retreat will also feature opportunities to learn about:

  • OHDR pilot studies:◦“Exploring Attitudes Toward Return of Genetic Research Results to Family Among Diverse Populations”
    • “Social Network Analysis for Health Behaviors Among Hispanic and Somali Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease”
    • “Perception and Reality: The Characterization of Skin Lesions, Attitudes Towards Malignancy, and Body Awareness in Hispanics”
    • “A Pilot Study on the Barriers to Kidney Transplantation and Kidney Transplant Outcomes in American Indians”
  • Health disparities research resources and funding mechanisms
  • Faith-based ministries as drivers of health
  • Role of telemedicine, virtual reality health platforms and mHealth (mobile-technology assisted health) in addressing health disparities
  • Efforts across Mayo’s Research, Practice and Education shields to address health disparities