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Medical College of Wisconsin Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

MCW Celebrates MLK Day with virtual event 

On January 16, 2023, the MCW community came together for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. In partnership with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the MLK Day Planning Committee titled this year's program "Revisiting Health and Wellness and a Mission of Service" through MLK's legacy. This year's hybrid event reached 250+ viewers. 

The celebration included guest speaker Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker, the Founder and Executive Director of the Ko-Thi Dance Company, Wisconsin's oldest African American arts organization. Ms. Caulker taught at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Peck School of the Arts Department of Dance until she retired as professor emerita in 2016. In her speech, she shared the importance of the Influence of Arts on Health and Wellness and concluded with an inspiring performance by Ko-Thi Dance members.  

Other notable MCW speakers and presentations included:

MCW students Daija Chomicki, Kaelin Akins, Elisha Jaeke, and Brooke Koehn offered personal reflections on quotes from Dr. King and how their respective fields of study will allow them to improve the health of our community. 

President John Raymond and Executive Vice President Dr. Joseph Kerschner shared examples of institutional programs that address racial, social, and health inequities the MCW community and partners continue to face.

Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity and CDIO Dr. Greer Jordan reflected on Dr. King's life and how continuing to pursue equality in society can be good for the mental health of all.  

Dr. Leonard Egede and Dr. Gustavo Leone shared their visions for medical and scientific research and MCW's role in advancing health equity. Both shared how, through community-engaged research,  MCW is working toward eliminating the racial disparities that are barriers to MLK's dream of a healthy community for all.

Rachel Glassford, Education Program Coordinator III, and Anton Johnson II, Admissions Recruiter, shared how their roles contribute to MCW's sense of inclusion and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

Testimonials

I can feel the love!

This is such a good feeling! LOVE our MCW community!

Thank you SO much to everyone who organized and attended this. What a breath of fresh air.

Thank you to everyone! What an incredible, inspiring and heartwarming event!