Send us Fan Mail
Centennial Voices: The History. The Health. The Promise.
Celebrating 100 Years of the Houston Medical Forum | A Brain Friends Special Edition
What happens when a century of medical history meets the voices of the people living it today?
Founded in 1926, the Houston Medical Forum (HMF) was created by Black physicians navigating segregation and barriers to professional opportunity. One hundred years later, that legacy continues through mentorship, education, community engagement, and a commitment to improving health.
Brain Friends: The Podcast brought Conference Voices to Houston for HMF's centennial celebration. We came expecting conversations about medicine, research, and history.
We came home with much more.
The History. We explore the physicians who opened doors when those doors were closed to them, supported future generations of Black doctors, and stood alongside their communities during the civil rights movement. From Dr. Edith Irby Jones and Dr. Carl Mark Carroll Jr. to the remarkable family history of a midwife known as Grandma Candy, these stories remind us that healthcare history is also community history.
The Health. Physicians, researchers, and a medical student share perspectives on stroke prevention, neuroplasticity, antibiotic resistance, nutrition, healthcare access, and the importance of making complicated medical information understandable. We also examine why knowing what to do isn't always the same as having the resources to do it.
The Promise. Stroke survivors, a woman living with Parkinson's disease, and care partners speak openly about recovery, invisible disabilities, communication, family responsibilities, and hope. An unexpected visitor seeking business connections finds himself in a conversation about his brother's recent stroke—and discovers something he didn't know he needed.
Voices you'll hear
Among the many people who joined us:
- Dr. Brandi Freeman — The importance of mentorship, representation, and investing in future generations of physicians.
- Dr. Joanie Hare — Family legacy, maternal-fetal medicine, stroke recovery, aphasia, and hope.
- Dr. Portia Davis — Building community trust and including families in healthcare decisions.
- Dr. Shandra Higginbotham — Taking ownership of your health while recognizing barriers involving food, finances, access, and healthcare systems.
- Albert Sarpong — A medical student's commitment to making scientific knowledge understandable.
- Dr. Randall Wright — Stroke prevention, brain health, neuroplasticity, and the changing possibilities of neurological recovery.
- Dr. June Williams Coleman — Practical ways to prepare for medical appointments, ask questions, and bring someone into important healthcare conversations.
You'll also hear from stroke survivor Spring Miles, a woman sharing her experience with Parkinson's disease, Terry Baylor, and Angie's husband and care partner, Charles Cauthorn.
Together, these conversations remind us that medical knowledge becomes more powerful when it reaches the people who need it.
A special thank-you
Our sincere gratitude to the Houston Medical Forum for welcoming Brain Friends and Conference Voices into this historic centennial celebration.
Special thanks to HMF President Dr. Simbo Chiadika, immediate past president Dr. Anjail Sharrief-Ibrahim, the centennial planning team, organizers, and volunteers for their hospitality and commitment to bringing people together.
And thank you to every physician, researcher, student, survivor, and care partner who generously shared their knowledge and experiences.
These conversations continue
We recorded far more than could fit into one special edition!
Throughout this season and the next, Brain Friends will return to Houston with extended interviews, additional science, and more stories from the people who made this gathering unforgettable.
Centennial Voices is a special Houston Medical Forum edition powered by Conference Voices, featured on Brain Friends: The Podcast.
About the Houston Medical Forum: https://houstonmedicalforum.org
Conference Voices: https://conferencevoices.com
Medical information disclaimer
This episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The conversations reflect individual experiences and professional perspectives and do not constitute personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
Health conditions, treatment decisions, and recovery experiences vary from person to person. Always consult your own qualified healthcare team about your individual circumstances. In a medical emergency, seek immediate emergency assistance.
Hosted by Angie Cauthorn
Take care of your brain. Take care of your body. And take care of each other.
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.
