David Satcher, the former U.S. surgeon general and CDC director who began as a civil-rights activist, was the College of Medicine’s Grand Rounds speaker Jan. 17 for Racism Awareness Week.

RAW is an annual student-sponsored series designed to raise awareness of how racial issues in society intersect with health. The week features lectures, workshops and discussions on racism, bias and current events.

Satcher discussed the role of student activism in achieving racial justice and health equity.

“I want to commend you, Dean Fogarty, … and especially the students for being willing to confront the issue of racism,” he said. “And to really work toward creating an environment that recognizes that there’s really no place for racism in our society.” 

The most important policy change the country needs, he said, is universal access to health care.

In his PowerPoint presentation, Satcher emphasized this slide: “In order to eliminate disparities in health and achieve health equity, we need leaders who first care enough, leaders who know enough, leaders who have the courage to do enough and leaders who will persevere until the job is done.”

By "leaders," he was referring not just to physicians or academics but also parents and other concerned community members.

“We can change things,” he said in conclusion. “We can make things better for everybody.”

RAW speakers this year also included Jessica Pryce, director of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare; Elena Reyes, director of the College of Medicine’s Center for Child Stress & Health in Immokalee; and representatives from FSU’s Center for Leadership & Social Change.