Camara Phyllis Jones returns to Stanford as 2022 President's Awardee for the Advancement of the Common Good

On November 4, 2022, Camara Phyllis Jones, MD ’81, returned to campus to present a series of inspiring talks and conversations. Delivered in her typically energetic, passionate, and compelling manner, Jones inspired students, faculty, community members, community partners, and staff.

During an intimate breakfast meeting, Dr. Jones and attendees delved into ideas from her article, “Seeing the Water: Seven Values Targets for Anti-Racism Action.” At a noon-time event with students and leaders from community service centers, Jones shared her professional path, her career journey in medicine and public health, and how she formed her ideologies on the importance of addressing race and racism to improve the health of our nation.

Later, David Chang, MD, hosted Jones in his Population Health class, where she engaged first-year medical students in a discussion on the habits of mind for social justice warriors and generously answered important and challenging questions from students. This day culminated with a public event on the four allegories on race and racism.

Throughout the day, Jones illuminated for her audience four key messages: racism exists, racism is a system, racism saps the strength of the whole society, and, most importantly, we can act to dismantle racism guided by the four “BC's.” They are: be courageous, be curious, be a citizen, and build community.

Acknowledgments: This series of events was made possible through the joint efforts of the Office of the President, the Haas Center for Public Service, the School of Medicine’s Office of Community Engagement, and the Stanford Alumni Association.