FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Medical Association President to Headline Charlottesville Public Health Symposium on Building Solutions for Community Wellness and Harm Reduction
Charlottesville, Va. — The Public Health Symposium: Building Solutions for Community Wellness and Harm Reduction, hosted by the University of Virginia’s Public Engagement in Governance Looking, Listening, and Learning Laboratory (PEGLLLLab) in collaboration with regional healthcare and civic leaders, will take place in Charlottesville on March 13–14, 2026. The two-day symposium will feature Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD, the 126th president of the National Medical Association and one of the nation’s leading voices on the topics of public health, justice, and community safety.
Dr. Mitchell, alongside academic and legal experts, will lead critical discussions on how to address firearm violence, systemic trauma, and harm reduction through a public health lens.
The Public Health Symposium: Building Solutions for Community Wellness and Harm Reduction Events:
- Friday, March 13 (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) |The Violence Intervention Forum
- Location: CitySpace, 100 5th St NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Details: A “Lunch & Lessons Learned” panel featuring Dr. Mitchell and experts discussing evidence-based approaches to violence prevention and conflict resolution.
- To register for the public event, please click this link.
- Friday, March 13 (2 p.m.–4 p.m.) | Reception with Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr.
- Location: UVA Claude Moore Nursing Building, Room G010, 225 Jeanette Lancaster Way, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Details: A private meet-and-greet for pre-med, medical, and nursing students to engage with Dr. Mitchell on leadership in medicine and public health.
- Saturday, March 14 (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) | The Bridge to Better: Healing Trauma and Seeking Justice in Our Communities
- Location: Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Outpatient Care Center, Kessler Conference Room, 595 Martha Jefferson Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22911
- Details: This session will focus on the human impact of gun violence and deaths in custody, while highlighting trauma-informed approaches and community-driven solutions that support healing and resilience. To register for the public event, please click this link.
“By approaching community safety as a public health priority, we can build more resilient systems that prioritize healing and evidence-based intervention,” said Dr. Brian N. Williams, Director of the PEGLLLLab and a professor at UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
The PEGLLLLab creates situations and environments that facilitate looking, listening, and learning using a signature approach that harnesses the power of academic research, community engagement, and public service.
The Spring 2026 Symposium is supported by community partners including:
- Epsilon Psi Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
- Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation
- Thompson Restaurants (Milk & Honey and The Ridley)
- The City of Charlottesville
- Archons of Charlottesville Foundation
- The Charlottesville Police Foundation
- Woodard Properties
- UVA’s Violence Solutions Project
- Central Virginia Violence Interrupters
- The Charlottesville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
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Media Contact
Nicki Deuel
Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
tav9rs@virginia.edu
(434) 982-2846
