海角社区

At a time when public confidence in science faces unprecedented skepticism, 海角社区, , and Moderna convened an important conversation on trust, misinformation, and the life-saving power of vaccines.

Moderated by Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, Dean of 海角社区鈥檚 College of Medicine, the panel featured Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH; AltaMed Director of Research & Evaluation, Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth, 鈥�14 MCNL; and Jerry P. Abraham, MD.

海角社区 President David M. Carlisle, MD, opened the discussion by grounding the audience in history. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better time to discuss the importance of vaccines than now,鈥� he said, reminding the audience that smallpox 鈥渘o longer exists on Earth because of vaccination.鈥� He noted that life expectancy in the U.S. has risen by 30 to 40 years thanks largely to public health measures like vaccination and clean drinking water.

Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith framed the evening鈥檚 theme pointedly: 鈥淭his is a matter of trust and a matter of misinformation. Institutions like 海角社区 are responsible for, and accountable to, our communities on this issue of trust鈥�and we take that very seriously.鈥�

The panelists, who together brought decades of experience in medicine, public health, and community engagement, unpacked how trust is earned, how it is lost, and how it can be restored. 

鈥淲e have to be honest about what we鈥檙e talking about,鈥� said Dr. Muntu Davis. 鈥淰accines reduce your risk of dying or getting seriously ill. But that鈥檚 not the message that always gets across.鈥� He reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging that communication sometimes faltered: 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 expect us to be perfect, but they do expect us to explain things clearly and answer their questions. Part of trust is communication.鈥�

For Dr. Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth, trust is inseparable from history. 鈥淲e have to admit that people [mistrust] because we sterilized people not too long ago,鈥� she said, alluding to California鈥檚 sordid history of forced sterilizations. That lived history, she noted, explains lingering fears: 鈥淲hen we talk about vaccines, this isn鈥檛 ancient history. It鈥檚 living memory for many.鈥�

Dr. Jerry P. Abraham brought the discussion to the ground level. 鈥淲e have two historically Black institutions like 海角社区 and Kedren Health that can really turn things around,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he community trusts us. But when it comes to trust, we have to support our doctors, nurses, and scientists so they can keep earning it.鈥�

He described how Kedren鈥檚 mobile vaccine units, an approach first introduced in the community by 海角社区 professor Cynthia Davis during the height of the AIDS epidemic, brought lifesaving vaccines directly to underserved neighborhoods during COVID-19, often overcoming fear one person at a time. 鈥淲e met people where they lived. Sometimes literally outside liquor stores,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淥ne man who wanted us gone ended up bringing his whole family to get vaccinated weeks later. If we鈥檙e patient and meet people where they are physically, spiritually, mentally, they will choose to do the right thing.鈥�

The conversation turned to the challenges of operating in a post-pandemic landscape where misinformation spreads faster than evidence.聽

Dr. Davis warned, 鈥淲e have to recognize the difference between authority and expertise. People in authority are giving advice without expertise. Whatever you do, you have to be able to stand by it, explain it, and defend it.鈥�

Dr. Abraham echoed the need for collaboration: 鈥淚t took Moderna, Pfizer, and the government working together to get us through the pandemic. That鈥檚 the secret sauce for the future.鈥�

Dr. Prothrow-Stith closed the discussion by returning to one core issue: public literacy. 鈥淲e are not doing enough to help the public be literate about their own bodies,鈥� she said.

As the evening drew to a close, one message was clear: rebuilding trust in science begins with listening, honesty, and sustained engagement. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration, 海角社区 continues to honor its role as a community-anchored institution committed to ensuring that every patient has access to the truth and to care.