Dear Members of the HSC Team,
Like you, we have been deeply saddened by the seemingly endless accounts of senseless violence, oppression and tragedy in our Nation. Many of these events highlight injustices inflicted upon people simply because of their race, religion or aspects of who they are as people. The impact of these tragedies affects individuals, families, and entire communities, and trying to find words for any of us to adequately express our feelings around these events is nearly impossible.
It has been ten months since the Cabinet commissioned the RISE team in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others in the Black community. The jury has decided in the Derek Chauvin trial. We want to bring our team back to our original sentiments. We commit to you that we will continue to address racism as the public health issue it is in relation to health equity and inequality. HSC remains a place where we don’t tolerate racism in any form, a place where we work to break down forms of both structural and organizational racism and a place where true social justice can exist. As a nation, our society is far from eradicating the evil of racism. However, we at the HSC can continue to uphold our purposeful commitment to build a better culture. One based on our values of serving others, showing respect, collaborating together, having integrity while being visionary as to how we live these values each day.
At HSC our One University vision is built on our purpose of improving the lives of others.
We remain confident that together we can create a better world here at HSC now!
Our best,
Dr. Michael R. Williams
President
Charles Taylor, PharmD
Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs
Frank Filipetto, DO, FACOFP
Dean, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
J. Glenn Forister, PhD, PA-C
Dean, School of Health Professions
S. Suresh Madhavan, MBA, PhD, FAPhA
Dean, UNTS College of Pharmacy
J. Michael Mathis, PhD, EdD
Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Dennis Thombs, PhD, FAAHB
Dean, School of Public Health
Desiree Ramirez, CCEP, CHC
Chairperson, R I S E Team