Columbia University students, faculty and staff are invited to join in-person. Columbia Alumni and members of the public are invited to join us virtually.

Linda Villarosa, Journalist and Author of “Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of our Nation”
Journalism Professor, City College of New York 
Professor, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

Though America is the wealthiest country in the world — and spends more on medical care than any other nation. Yet, we have the poorest health outcomes. Racial disparities in health, from birth to the end of life, have remained stubbornly in place for decades or longer, even among educated, wealthy Black Americans. My talk will discuss these issues, and lean into solutions informed by my perspective as a journalist.

Presentation followed by a moderated discussion then Audience Q&A with Yvonne Ortiz, MEd. Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.

Registration Required

The theme for the 2024-2025 Grand Rounds series is Urgent Care: Public Health and the World Today. In an era of conflict, crisis, disinformation and fragmentation, public health is more challenging – and more urgent – than ever. 2024-25’s Grand Rounds will look at the role of public health in current affairs, and the way current affairs are impacting public health. Together we’ll engage in discussions about today’s greatest public health challenges, how to learn across differences, potential compromises and solutions, and apply an interdisciplinary lens to understand how some of the biggest debates of the moment are shaping the sector. From themes like the political determinants of health, understanding the toll of inequality on the health of people, and the health consequences of war and crisis, Grand Rounds will focus on threats to public health today as well as what we need to address them.

Grand Rounds was initiated in 2008 at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health to create an intellectual space within which to explore national and global public health challenges and the innovative approaches needed to transform the public’s health in the 21st century.

We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require disability accommodation to attend this event, please contact disability@columbia.edu no later than 10 days prior to event date. We will work with our colleagues at Disability Services to fulfill requests made after this date, but cannot guarantee they will be met.

For questions, please message public_health_events@cumc.columbia.edu.