Former surgeon general to lead public health discussion

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Former U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin will lead a discussion on public health disparities in an online event presented April 14 by EngenuitySC.

The free event will begin at noon and be moderated by University of South Carolina researcher and College of Nursing assistant professor Tisha Felder, co-founder of Mocha Mamas Milk. Questions may be submitted during the event for a question-and-answer session at its conclusion.

Dr. Benjamin served as the 18th Surgeon General from 2009-2013. The founder and CEO of Gulf States Health Policy Center, she focuses on preventative health care and developing community-based strategies for low-income and rural communities.

The online event is part of Competitiveness Week 2021. Public health serves as a measure of area economic success and is used in the Gallup Well-Being Index, a metric used in the Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report’s livability index.  

“Public health isn’t just a public health issue,” Elise Partin, mayor of Cayce, EngenuitySC board chair and an adjunct professor in the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, said in a news release. “It’s an economic development issue: Do companies want to come to a location if diabetes, heart disease or other impacts on their health insurance will affect their bottom line? It’s a community development issue: Do we have safe places to walk or bike for enjoyment or for getting around town? It’s an equity and equality issue: Does everyone have the same access to healthcare, healthy food, and safety?”

Ben Green, president and COO of Insurance Advantage and EngenuitySC board member, will open the event. Advance registration is required and available online.

“As business leaders and community leaders, we can make a further positive impact that has ripple effects through all aspects of our region,” Partin said.