OKLAHOMA CITY – Dr. Bernice King, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, delivered the keynote speech at the OU Health Sciences Center’s 2020 Martin L. King Jr. Celebration held on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The event was sponsored by the African-American Student Association at the OU Health Sciences Center.

“Our intent is to celebrate Dr. King’s dedication to equality and justice for all people,” said Andrea Latson-Chambers, president of the group and a Class of 2021 College of Pharmacy student. “His life’s work has had a profound impact on all facets of society, and we deem it especially important in healthcare. I love that this event gives the opportunity for the campus and the community to come together to discuss what that would mean for us in today’s society. This year we are pleased to have Dr. Bernice King come to celebrate not only her father but also the pursuit of equality and justice for all.”

Dr. Bernice King is the youngest daughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She holds master of divinity and doctorate of law degrees and is the chief executive officer of The King Center, founded by her mother in 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, The King Center educates visitors about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to nonviolent principles in seeking equality for African-Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice.

Dr. King contested many forms of social injustice, including inequities in healthcare, said Robert Salinas, M.D., assistant dean for Access and Community Engagement in the OU College of Medicine.

“For those of us in medical education, his message continues to resonate and the work remains,” Salinas said. “Major healthcare disparities continue and urgently need to be addressed if we are to really make a difference in the lives of others.” Salinas is also a Family Medicine physician at OU Physicians Family Medicine.