Who We Are
The Health and Racial Equity (HRE) Committee is a department under the Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) born out of the MPHA’s strong commitment to health and racial equity and justice for all Mississippians. The MPHA is an affiliate organization of the American Public Health Association (APHA).
Vision
With years of experience, our medical team will assess you and create a custom recovery plan that’s right for you. We understand the importance of educating you on the most effective ways to take care of your body, so that you can heal quickly.
Mission
Not only will our doctors treat your existing conditions, we also work to maximize your prevention strategies. We strive to help you improve your quality of life, achieve your wellness goals, and support your best possible life.
Objectives
- Facilitate the MPHA’s role in advancing and improving health equity in Mississippi, among individuals and groups.
- Convene and train public health professionals on health equity.
- Educate and promote inclusion and anti-racism in health activities by the MPHA and other APHA affiliates.
- Work with the Policy Committee to monitor legislative activity and offer analysis on health equity related policies.
- Learn and share with other APHA affiliates.
Committee Members
- Dr. Tanya Funchess
Chair of the MPHA Health and Racial Equity Committee and MPHA President-Elect. College of Nursing and School of Health Professions. Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg MS.
tanya.funchess@usm.edu - Dr. Katie Crawford Buys
Family Nurse Practitioner Program. School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
katiebuys34@gmail.com - Dr. Latasha Easterling
HAN/SS/Opioid SS Coordinator -BSA II, Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology.
latasha.easterling@msdh.ms.gov - Mr. Ron Davis
Past President of MPHA. Former Human Resources Director, Mississippi State Department of Health.
rpdavis@hotmail.com - Ms. LaShundrea Bradford
Research Dietician, University of Southern Mississippi.
theresearchdiva@gmail.com - Dr. Danielle Fastring
Assistant Professor, University of Southern Mississippi.
danielle.fastring@usm.edu
Committee Members
- Karin Thurman
Bureau Director, Office of Performance Improvement, Mississippi State Department of Health.
karin.thurman@msdh.ms.gov - Dr. Alyce Stewart
Bureau Director, Genetic Services, Mississippi State Department of Health.
alyce.stewart@msdh.ms.gov - Dr. Kaye Bender
Executive Director, MPHA.
execdir@mspha.org - Kay Henry
Special Projects Coordinator, MPHA.
henry_kay@comcast.net
Our Declaration
Mississippi Public Health Association Statement on Racism and Racial Equity
“The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) acknowledges that racism in all its forms, implicit or explicit as well as individual, group-based or structural, is a threat to public health and that together, we will work for racial equity. MPHA commits to reject overt racism, reduce structural racism and implicit bias and promote equity.”