Event information

Join a day of collective action as we explore strategies for advancing health equity in our city. From notable speakers to panel discussions, to health screenings, attendees will be a part of addressing the health equity issues that impact our communities.

Hosted by the Malcolm X College Student Activities Department, the Malcolm X College Student Government Association, and Malcolm X College Nursing Department this event is open to students, healthcare providers and advocates, and the wider community.

When: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: Malcolm X College Auditorium, 1900 W. Jackson

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Adebayo Adelanke Bademosi, MD, DABFM, FAAFP

Chicago-Based Board-Certified Family Physician

Dr. Adebayo Adelanke Bademosi is a Chicago-based, board-certified family physician and a respected leader in community-focused healthcare. A Fellow of the American Board of Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Physicians, he currently serves as President of the Advocate Trinity Physician Health Organization. His career reflects more than two decades of clinical excellence, medical education, and advocacy for equitable healthcare.

Since 2000, Dr. Bademosi has been dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of clinicians. He serves as an adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts, and at St. James School of Medicine, St. Vincent. He instructs medical students from these universities. He also trains nurse practitioners from Chamberlain University, physician assistant from Dominion University, and resident trainees from several university residency programs. His commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, emphasizing professionalism, compassionate patient care, and culturally informed practice.

Dr. Bademosi’s clinical mission centers on closing gaps in healthcare access—particularly for individuals of low socioeconomic status—and rebuilding trust among communities historically marginalized or harmed by the medical system. He is especially passionate about addressing skepticism rooted in past injustices such as the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis, and he works actively to foster transparency, respect, and shared decision-making in patient care.

He is the founder of Family Doctor Medical Center and FamilyDoc Urgent Care, two institutions created to expand accessible, high-quality primary and urgent care services in underserved communities.

Dr. Bademosi attended Rowan University for his undergraduate studies before earning his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. His career continues to reflect a lifelong commitment to service, education, and advancing equity in healthcare.

Dr. Olusimbo Simbo Ige

Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public Health

Dr. Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige is a nationally recognized public health leader with nearly two decades of experience driving health equity and system transformation. As Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health—and the first Black woman to serve in this role permanently—she leads citywide strategies to improve the health and safety of all Chicagoans.

Previously, she served as Managing Director of Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, advancing national efforts to build equitable and accountable health systems. She also held senior leadership roles at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she was honored for building influential partnerships and driving systemic change.

With a strong academic foundation and numerous awards, Dr. Ige is a dedicated advocate for healthier communities and stronger public health systems.

Panelists

Dr. Manuel Hernandez

For 38 years, Dr. Manuel “Manny” Hernandez has stood at the intersection of medicine, design, and leadership—challenging healthcare systems to confront inequity with courage and creativity. A practicing emergency physician, strategist, and designer, he helps organizations connect equity, experience, and economics into actionable strategies that deliver measurable results.

Blending data analytics with human-centered design, Dr. Hernandez works to make care more accessible, affordable, effective, convenient, and equitable. His innovative leadership has helped national health systems rethink access, workforce development, and consumer experience through an equity lens, transforming equity from aspiration to reality. Widely regarded as a pragmatic innovator and truth-teller, he is known for his clear-eyed realism and his belief that bold design and braver leadership can create a healthcare system that truly serves everyone.

Dr. Paris Thomas

Dr. Paris Thomas serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Equal Hope in Chicago, leading transformative initiatives to address cancer disparities and expand access to care for marginalized communities. Holding a PhD in Health Sciences, she applies evidence-based and intersectional approaches to dismantle structural racism within healthcare.

Her work centers on developing culturally competent interventions for communities of color, improving screening and treatment access, and advancing health justice. Under her leadership, Equal Hope continues to drive measurable progress in reducing inequities across Chicago’s most vulnerable populations.

Dr. Krystal Preston

Dr. Krystal Preston, a proud native of Chicago’s South Side, is a Board-Certified Clinical Pharmacist with expertise in oncology, specialty pharmacy, and managed care. Deeply committed to advancing health equity, she focuses on improving access to high-quality care for underserved communities.

A passionate mentor and advocate, Dr. Preston empowers young pharmacists and young women of color to lead with purpose and integrity. Through her public speaking and leadership, she inspires others to reimagine what equitable, patient-centered healthcare can look like in every community.

Sheanah Rivers

Sheanah Rivers is a Spiritual Speaker, Sound Healing Facilitator, and Self-Care & Mindfulness Educator based in Chicago, IL. Beginning her wellness journey as a massage therapist in 2011, she expanded her practice in 2020 by becoming a Certified Reiki Master Teacher.

Sheanah offers transformative sound healing and spiritual wellness workshops, guiding individuals and groups toward deeper self-awareness, emotional balance, and holistic well-being.

Drea Slaughter

Executive Director of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative

Drea Slaughter is a Chicago-based community leader and justice-centered innovator committed to advancing health equity and collective wellness on the West Side of Chicago. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, where she leads community-driven initiatives focused on expanding access to wellness resources and affirming health as a community right, not a privilege.

Drea’s work is deeply connected to West Side wellness ecosystems, including collaborative efforts aligned with the Sankofa Village Community Garden, a culturally rooted space centered on food justice, healing, and land stewardship. Previously, she served as Community Engagement Manager for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, where she helped create inclusive, welcoming spaces for Black and Brown families and strengthened community access to public institutions.

Olivia Lemberger

Nurse & Innovation Scientist

Olivia Lemberger is an innovation driven nurse leader with more than 25 years of experience across Neurosurgical, Emergency, and Nursing Professional Practice settings. Her career began as a Peace Corps health service volunteer in Guinea, West Africa, where she learned to deliver care with creativity and limited resources.

Olivia holds a PhD in Health Sciences from Northern Illinois University and was among the inaugural Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellows. During her fellowship, she created the Nurse Innovator Index, an open access platform showcasing the work of nurse innovators worldwide.

She now serves as Innovation Scientist at the American Nurses Association, advancing initiatives that elevate nursing innovation on a global scale.

Aric M. Shimek

Global Health Advocate & Human Rights Advocate

Aric M. Shimek, MSN, RN, CPN, is a nurse leader, global health advocate, and health diplomacy professional dedicated to advancing health equity, human rights, and the voice of nurses in global policy.

He previously served as Liaison to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for Sigma Theta Tau International, representing nursing at UN convenings in New York and Geneva and contributing to global discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals, health-in-all-policies, and the future of the health workforce.

Aric currently serves as a United Nations Committee Member for SONSIEL and Assistant Director for Advocacy at the Center for Global Pediatric Health, supporting efforts to elevate pediatric health in national and global policy agendas. A Certified Human Rights Consultant, he applies a rights based lens to advocacy, education, and leadership development while mentoring emerging health advocates.

He holds an MSN in Global Health Leadership from Midwestern University, a BSN from Resurrection University, and a BA in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin.

Getting There

By public transit: Several transit routes run adjacent to the college including: the CTA Blue Line (Illinois Medical District stop) and the CTA bus #157, 126, and 50.

By car: Cars access Malcolm X College via Jackson Blvd. The Malcolm X College parking garage is accessible via Jackson Blvd.

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