Who is Henrietta Lacks?
Mrs. Henrietta Lacks, is an African American legend. She was born Loretta Pleasant on August 1, 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia. Mrs. Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer in southern Virginia, and moved with her husband into the Turner’s Station community in Dundalk, Maryland, near Baltimore, in 1943.
At the age of 30, Henrietta was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and in January 1951, was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the few major hospitals that treated “coloreds.” While she was receiving the first of several radium treatments, a surgeon took tissue samples of Henrietta’s tumor and surrounding normal tissue without her permission or knowledge. The samples were given to the tissue research department at Johns Hopkins, where they were looking for an “immortal” cell line to use in cancer research.
Unlike other samples tried, Henrietta’s cancerous cells, referred to as “HeLa” cells (from the first two letters of her first and last names), not only survived, but multiplied at an extraordinary rate. By September the cancer had spread throughout her body, but as she declined, Henrietta’s cells continued to thrive and multiply. Henrietta Lacks lost her battle with cancer on October 4, 1951 at the age of 31.
Mistrust in Science, Injustice in Science and Medicine
Health and Community Fair
Tender Kennebrew
Certified Personal Trainer
My name is Tender Kennebrew and I’m a Franchise Owner and Trainer with Camp Gladiator. I instruct socially distanced outdoor bootcamps as well as live virtual bootcamps via Zoom. I’m passionate about helping individuals become the best version of themselves through fitness and healthy eating. Maintaining regular physical activity is much more than losing weight. Many of my overweight clients have achieved non scale victories such as: loss of inches around their hips and midsection, increased range of motion - allowing them to move around with more ease, and increased energy - no more midday crashes. I aspire to impact as many lives as I can by creating workouts for all fitness levels. A fitness lifestyle is attainable by everyone - no matter one’s age or stage in life. Remember, you are your greatest investment so always make time to invest in your health. Want to talk about fitness? Feel free to contact me at tenderkennebrew@campgladiator.com.
Community Health Fair Interview with Tender Kennebrew
Dr. Taylor Adkins
PT, DPT
Taylor Adkins is originally from Macon, Georgia. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Mercer University and Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University. She currently practices physical therapy in the orthopedic setting and serves as the co-chair of American Physical Therapy Association of Georgia’s Minority Mentoring Program. As a student, Taylor organized and hosted the first annual student conference in Georgia. In her free time, Taylor enjoys volunteering with underserved populations at the Good Samaritan Health Center where she provides diabetic foot care.
Community Healthcare Interview with Dr. K. Taylor Adkins
Dr. Fernando Porter, MD
Medical Director
An Atlanta, GA native, Fernando Porter, M.D. attended Florida A&M University where he received a bachelor’s degree. From an early age, he was always passionate about helping others, mentoring and being engaged in his community so it was inevitable that he would pursue a career that afforded him the opportunity to do both. In 2010, he earned his medical degree from Florida State University, then went on to complete his residency training in Philadelphia, PA.
Community Health Fair Interview with Dr. Fernando Porter
Maribel Schonewolff
DPhil candidate in Biochemistry, University of Oxford
Maribel Schonewolff joined Wolfson College on the Oxford-Wolfson-Marriott Graduate Scholarship in Biochemistry in 2019 after completing my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Germany, Canada and the United States. Despite her strong academic background, she often faces difficulties to picture her own career in the academia. She want to see more women in leading academic and professional positions. We all make our career decisions based on ‘I can see it – I can be it!' Where are the diverse role models for women i n STEM? She chooses to challenge the gender bias in her field by promoting strong and powerful women and celebrating their accomplishments.
Community Healthcare Interview with Maribel Schonewolff
Dr. Brianna Glover, M.D.
Emory Pediatrics Co-Chief Resident
Brianna Glover, M.D. is an Atlanta native who was born and raised in the Decatur/Lithonia area graduating from Martin Luther King Jr. High School in 2009. Dr. Glover completed her dual major undergraduate degree in biology and psychology at the University of Georgia. She then graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2017 and began her pediatrics residency at Emory University which she completed in 2020. She is now practicing as a general pediatrician but plans to continue training to specialize in pediatric hospital medicine. Her passions are in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the medical field, including recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities as well as development of curricula that address implicit biases and microaggressions. She has also been involved in research efforts with topics such as asthma and ADHD. Her hobbies include traveling, reading novels and nature walks.
Community Healthcare Interview with Dr. Briana Glover