Arnold School of Public Health

The James E. Clyburn Health Equity Lecture Series was created to honor Congressman James E. Clyburn for his support and partnership in advancing health equity in South Carolina and across the nation. This prestigious lecture series is hosted by the Arnold School of Public Health and the Department of Health Services Policy and Management, with the generous support of our sponsors, including: the South Carolina Department of Public Health, the USC Collaborative for Health Equity Research (CHEER) Center, the USC Office of Civil Rights History and Research, the USC Division of Access, Civil Rights,and Community Engagement and the USC Rural Health Research Center.

About the Lecture

Congressman James E. Clyburn along with Senator Ernest F. Hollings was instrumental in securing funding to establish the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities in 2003. The Institute created a Lecture to honor Congressman Clyburn. The Lecture was established as a mechanism to allow national and regional health disparities researchers, public health researchers, practice professionals, policy makers and community leaders to share their findings, best practices, and lessons learned with students, faculty, and the community. The goal of the lecture is to facilitate research and community engagement efforts focused on the social determinants of health and research on reducing and eliminating health disparities. Since its inception, the Lecture has been well attended by local government officials, the university’s faculty, staff and students and the community.

Leadership Awards

The James E. Clyburn Health Equity Leadership Awards recognize the contributions made by individuals and community organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and protecting the health of the community, particularly populations with established health disparities. Awards are presented to policymakers, health care professionals, community leaders, and researchers committed to eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity.

There are five award categories:

• Health Policy Leader in Public Health
  Recognizes state and local government officials who have made a positive impact on the population’s health and helped to reduce health disparities in South Carolina
• Health Care Leader in Public Health
  Recognizes members of the healthcare workforce who have contributed to public health initiatives and helped to reduce health disparities in their patient population(s)
• Community Leader in Public Health
  Recognizes community organizations and their members who have made major institutional commitments to improve public health and reduce health disparities in South Carolina
• Leadership in Public Health and Health Disparities Research
  Recognizes a senior-level researcher who has done pioneering research in the public health and health disparities field
• Emerging Leader in Public Health and Health Disparities Research
  Recognizes an outstanding junior-level researcher (within 10 years of completing their terminal degree) who has made substantial contributions to the public health and health disparities field

The 17th Annual James E. Clyburn Health Equity Lecture was heald Tuesday, April 7, 2026 

Keynote Speaker

Sara Rosenbaum, J.D. - Professor Emerita, Health Law and Policy Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University 

For more information, please contact: Dr. Toni Torres-McGehee (TORRESMC@mailbox.sc.edu)