Keynote Speaker

Associate Professor, Department of Family, Internal and Rural Medicine Director, Rural Programs - The University of Alabama

As an 8th-generation rural Alabamian who grew up experiencing firsthand the barriers to healthcare access in Greene County, Dr. Lavender brings both personal conviction and decades of clinical expertise to the conversation on rural health equity. After ten years providing full-spectrum family medicine in rural Pickens County, he now serves as Director of Rural Programs at the University of Alabama, where he has grown a suite of pipeline initiatives designed to recruit and develop the next generation of rural healthcare providers. A leader in organized medicine at the state and national levels, Dr. Lavender's work bridges the examining room, the classroom, and the policy table in pursuit of healthier rural communities. His keynote will include his personal perspective on innovation, interprofessionalism, and what it truly means to meet patients where they are.

Mobile health units are reshaping how care reaches the people who need it most — meeting patients where they are, not where it's convenient. This panel brings together leaders from across Alabama and the Southeast to share real-world strategies for expanding access, building community trust, and closing persistent gaps in care through mobile outreach. From preventive services and chronic disease management to behavioral health and simulation-based education, speakers will explore how mobile models can be woven into broader healthcare systems to advance equity and improve outcomes.

The Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation (CIPES) invites abstract submissions from faculty, students, and staff for possible poster presentation at this year’s IP Healthcare Symposium. Visit the link below for submission details and dates.