University of Iowa Health Care Black Faculty Council

The mission of the Black Faculty Council (BFC) is to promote the delivery of equitable health care to the Black community of Iowa City and surrounding areas. We aim to do this through community outreach and advocacy at the local and institutional levels for substantive policy change that mitigates disparities in health outcomes and increases access to timely, unbiased health care.

Additionally, the Black Faculty Council will promote the advancement of African American faculty (e.g., assisting Black faculty to enter key leadership positions, and promoting recruitment, retention, and enrichment of Black faculty). The BFC aims to make the learning and training environment at the UI Health Care more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable, ensuring that issues of race, class, and equity are addressed.

Membership: We encourage Black-identifying faculty of UI Health Care community and allies to participate.

Meeting times: Every second Thursday at 7 p.m.

Immediate Goals 2021:

Produce and disseminate educational information via social and potentially other media designed to address and mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy and access.

Short Term Goals:

Develop partnerships with existing community and institutional groups that share common interests.
Promote community building amongst ourselves by hosting social events and supporting local community events.

Long-term goals:

Widen pipeline for Black health care providers in the region.
- Recruit students at multiple educational levels
- Partner with Carver College of Medicine (CCOM)
Mentor and support existing students and providers to help them reach their academic and professional goals.
Foster open dialogue on race and ethnicity across the Carver College of Medicine.
Provide guidance to UI Health Care leadership on how to address health care disparities.
Focus on issues impacting BIPOC communities, underserved and marginalized populations, regarding health literacy.
Sustain partnerships that we form with community organizations.
Community building in relation to mitigating health care disparities.