With professionalism, poise and plenty of personality, former U.S. Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., brought insight to the issue of diversity in health care during her recent visit to The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.

Elders, the first African-American woman to serve as the nation’s leading physician, spoke during the Achieving Diversity in Dentistry and Medicine Leadership Training Program, Wednesday, July 27, which was co-sponsored by the American Medical Student Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Elders’ talk, made possible through the health science center’s Lone Star Legacy Society, was filled with passion for her subject and candid remarks about the role dentists and physicians can play in efforts to serve the underserved. She received a standing ovation at the conclusion of her speech.

“This nation believes that every criminal has a right to an attorney, but not that every person has a right to health care. Something is wrong with that,” Elders said. “We need to strive for 100 percent access to care and 0 percent disparity.

”Elders told the medical and dental students from universities across the nation that there are many children who are members of the 5-H club: Hungry, Helpless, Homeless, Hugless, Hopeless. These basic health-related needs must be met before they can begin to pay attention in school, where they receive their health education. “What good is reading, writing and arithmetic, when you are physically, mentally, and emotionally sick?,” Elders said.

“Dr. Elders didn’t give us just the problem, she also gave us the solution,” said Rowena Reyes, a fourth-year student at the UT Medical School, who co-chaired the conference with fourth-year dental student Alice Luan, under the direction of Paula O’Neil, Ed.D., associate dean of Education and Professional Development for the Dental Branch.

Elders stressed the importance of reaching young people with direct care and health education. “You need to start with yourselves,” she said. “We can’t teach what we don’t know and we can’t lead where we don’t go.”

“(The UT Dental Branch) is doing a fine job of emphasizing the importance of oral health in relation to overall health care, but I don’t think this is the case everywhere,” Elders said. “We, as physicians and dentists, need to do a better job of stressing this fact. We need more trained leaders to make sure this and other important health care issues are brought to light.”

In addition to advocacy, Elders encouraged the students to become generalists, instead of, or in addition to becoming specialist, so that they can be instrumental in helping a wider range of patients.

Following her talk, James T. Willerson, M.D., president of UT Health Science Center, thanked Elders for her time and commitment to the cause, calling her courageous.

“You speak what you know is right and you don’t worry about the consequences,” Willerson said. “I encourage you to keep charging forward. You remind me a lot of Barbara Jordan and I can’t pay you a higher compliment.”

Later in the day Richard Haught, D.D.S., president of the American Dental Association, spoke about the need for diversity in today’s dental population and the importance of reaching underserved areas.

Haught encouraged the students to return to underserved areas and provide care for those who need it most. He also stressed the importance of health education and promoting the literacy of health-related materials.

Charles Terrell, Ed.D., vice president for Diversity Policy and Programs at the Association of American Medical Colleges, reminded the student leaders to “Never Compromise the Dream,” when advancing diversity in medicine.

Earlier in the week, the students listened to a presentation on cultural competence by Tawara Goode, director of the National Center for Cultural Competence & associate director for community planning at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development.

By Erika E. Durham