We research practice, but also practice research. We believe that improving clinical and public health problems begins with interdisciplinary analysis of deep-rooted social structures, injustice, power, academic paradigms, wealth, authoritarianism, exploitation, abuse, technology, political corruption, and corporate malfeasance. In a biosocial model of health, these are the social factors that are most intimately linked with biological consequences. We also believe in a revolving-door dynamic between research and the application of that research to grass-roots-style community volunteerism and organizing. The Black Panther Party of the USA, the Dalit Panther Party of India, and the Chilean social medicine activists, as well as countless other grassroots movements around the world, did not just want to protect themselves and their communities from physical violence from police, class-based violence, or dictatorship, but also from the structural violence of deprivation of adequate conditions for optimal health.
Initiatives:
Pictured: Protesters for women's rights march to the Alabama Capitol to protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or medical risk. Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Alabama. Public records at the time showed members of the Alabama state legislature taking money from anti-abortion organizations. Credit: Butch Dill of Associated Press
Fundraising for community organizations
Questioning politicians at public forums, such as Alabama representative Teri Sewell on her ties to the pharmaceutical industry
Collaboration with local government leaders
Educational events that span public health, medical sociology, medical history, etc.
Community screening events
Speaker panels with faculty such as the Convention on Health Inequity in collaboration with UAB KDSAP and the Rural-Urban Health Divide with the Alabama Student Rural Health Association
Interviewing of community residents and organizational leaders
Development and dissemination of health information promotion material
Assessments of sites
Development of public health reports by geographic location and subsequent social justice advocacy networking
Assessment of interventions
Cultural education