11/17/2025
Hosted by the UNM HSC Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center (HSLIC), join Professor Deleso A. Alford, J.D., LL.M, Humanity Matters Visiting Professor at the UNM HSC Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for her presentation titled Exploring Cultural Humility through the Lens of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks and Her HeLa Cells: Humanity Matters.
This training is eligible for CME credit!
Thursday, November 20, 2025 – 1:00PM
Hybrid Event
In-Person: Domenici Center North Wing (DCNW) Room 2720
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93405042865; Password: JEI
This transformative training module invites participants to engage deeply with the lived experiences of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks – an African American woman whose cells, taken without permission or consent in 1951, became the first immortal human cell line and laid the foundation for countless scientific breakthroughs. Through the lens of cultural humility, participants will examine how Mrs. Lack's lived experience and her treatment intersected, and how the immortalization of her legacy continues to shape healthcare and research today.
Grounded in Professor Alford's seminal legal scholarship and bioethical inquiry, this session will challenge learners to:
• Define and apply Cultural Humility in clinical and institutional settings.
• Reflect on the humanity and dignity of Mrs. Lacks, whose story exemplifies the need for
ethical accountability and respectful communication in healthcare and research.
• Discuss the narrative of HeLa cells as a case study in professionalism, informed consent,
and unjust enrichment.
