University of Chicago Screening of the PBS Documentary

Pictures from the March 3, 2008 event

What is Unnatural Causes?

Unnatural Causes is a documentary series exploring America's racial and socioeconomic inequities in health. The U.S. is one of the richest countries on the planet. Yet, we rank 29th in the world for life expectancy, among the worst in the industrialized world - and even lower than some poor countries like Costa Rica and Chile.

Unnatural Causes will, for the first time on television, sound the alarm about America's glaring socio-economic and racial inequities in health - and search for root causes. The four-hour series (slated for a March 2008 DVD release) sifts through the evidence to discover there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care, or unlucky genes. The social conditions in which we are born, live and work profoundly affect our health and longevity.

For more information visit: www.unnaturalcauses.org

Why did we hosting a screening at the University of Chicago?

The University of Chicago is a national center of excellence in health disparities research and training.  The University, along with its Medical Center and surrounding community are important stakeholders on the quest to transform the manner in which health care is delivered locally and nationally to diverse populations.  Many students, faculty and staff from across the campus are engaged in these efforts. The time is right for us to come together and become agents of change.

The goal of this event is to energize the University community and promote its current and future work to reduce health disparities.  The screening will bring together students, faculty, staff from across the University of Chicago campus and leaders in the surrounding community to learn more about health disparities and why they exist.  The discussion and reception will allow for participants to learn about how they can get more involved to reduce health disparities and make a difference at the local level.

When will Unnatural Causes be broadcast in Chicago?

Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 1:00pm.

Who can I contact for more information?
Nicole Keesecker, Health Communication Specialist, Center for Health and the Social Sciences
nkeeseck@bsd.uchicago.edu
(773) 834-7037

Thank you to all who participated!

From left: Thomas Fisher, Monica Peek, Bryan Echols, and Rick Kittles
Dr. Monica Peek emceed the event while Drs. Thomas Fisher and Rick Kittles moderated the discussion.


From left: Bryan Echols, Eric Whitaker, and Quentin Young
Our three panelists responded to the screening and to audience questions.


Dr. Richard Davis (wearing the white collared shirt), a neonatologist at Stroger Hospital and an expert on infant mortality who appears in Unnatural Causes, joined us for the event and reception.


Over 175 student, faculty, staff and community members came to watch the introduction and second episode of Unnatural Causes--"When the Bough Breaks".

Event Sponsors:
Department of Medicine
Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS)
Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research (CIHDR)
Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (CSRPC)
Project HEALTH
Pritzker School of Medicine Student Organizations
Medical Center Office of Community Affairs
The Center for Health Administration Studies
Pritzker School of Medicine