Welcome to The Multicultural Health Institute (MHI)
The Multicultural Health Institute (MHI) seeks to level the healthcare playing field by promoting, educating, and ensuring equal healthcare access and treatment for individuals and communities who are traditionally uninsured and receive a poor quality of care. We support programs that educate, identify, and test for diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity, Stroke, Cardiovascular Disease, Infant Mortality, HIV/AIDS, and other health issues affecting under-represented communities across the United States which also help reduce the costs of healthcare.
Latest News and Upcoming Events
We invite you to take the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Course online by clicking the green button above. You can start this free course whenever you want to and continue at your own pace and availability. In this course, you will learn about the science of SARS-CoV-2, including the infectious period, the clinical presentation of COVID-19, and the evidence for how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from person-to-person and why contact tracing can be such an effective public health intervention.
With the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, everyone is trying their best to stay at home to lower their risk of infection. However, even with these attempts, going out, whether to shop for necessities or talk with friends, cannot be completely avoided. As a result, some people in the community may have come in contact with someone who has/had been infected with COVID-19 or may have traveled to an area with an ongoing spread of COVID-19. The Multicultural Health Institute (MHI) is actively working to identify those in greatest need of being tested for COVID-19 due to active symptoms. In addition to this, we are trying to reach members of the community who have a high risk of being infected with COVID-19 because of pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, uncontrolled diabetes or asthma/COPD. If you believe you may be a high-risk community member and wish to assist MHI in identifying high-risk community members, please complete this survey by clicking the green button above. One can also find additional resources at the top of the survey.
Stay safe, everyone, wear your masks when you go out, wash your hands when you come home and always keep them out of your face!
The Multicultural Health Institute
Click the red button above to view a plethora of resources about COVID-19.
Read about how you can protect yourself, what you can do to alleviate quarantine stress, and more!
Click the red button above to see graphics about hurricane preparedness and COVID-19! Learn about what goes into a hurricane emergency bag, see tips on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and more!
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With the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, doctors, who are on the front line of this pandemic, have found their stress to increase. Outside activities, such as making art, have been beneficial to the well being of doctors. The Ringling's Community Gallery is currently showing an exhibition called "The Art of Medicine", featuring works by members of the Sarasota County Medical Society. On August 11th, 6:00 P.M., The Ringling hosted a virtual panel discussion about this exhibition, with speakers such as Dr. Lisa Merritt.
To view a recording of this panel discussion, click here
Listen to Ringling educator, Laura Steefel-Moore, and Dr. Lisa Merritt talk about racial disparities in our communities in this Art Chat!
August Health & Holiday Observances
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National Immunization Awareness Month
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World Breastfeeding Week -- August 1st to August 7th
Current and Ongoing Projects
National Museum of African American History
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has released a free online portal about race​.
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The online portal provides digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles and more than 100 multi-media resources tailored for educators, parents and caregivers—and individuals committed to racial equality.
A rash of racially charged incidents—from an altercation in Central Park to acts of police brutality resulting in the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and the protests they provoked in cities around the country—prompted the Museum to move up the release date of Talking About Race. By releasing the new portal today, the Museum aims to help individuals and communities foster constructive discussions on one of the nation’s most challenging topics: racism, and its corrosive impact.
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To learn more about this online portal, click here
To access this online portal, click here
Newtown CHAT Meeting
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Every 4th Tuesday
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Robert L. Taylor Community Center.
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Next Meeting: TBA
Quit Your Way (Free Nicotine Patches)
Orange Blossom Garden
First Saturday
Next Gathering: TBA
Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association Meeting
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Every 4th Thursday
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MHI Community Room
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Next Meeting: TBA
Cancer Survival Tips
Cancer Stakeholder:
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A collaboration between Florida Department of Health and Comprehensive Cancer Control Program shares tips for surviving cancer.
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Every 3rd Tuesday
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North Sarasota Library.
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Next Meeting: TBA
Prepare Your Winter Fitness Challenge & Boost Your Antioxidant Protection
Increase your antioxidant protection by making a commitment to healthy lifestyle changes and supplementing your diet with Pharmanex products. Begin with the LifePak® product that fits your needs, and then choose from an extensive line of the finest nutritional products available at:
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lmerrittmd.pxproducts.com
