Distinguished Speaker Series- Dr. Deleso Alford
Health Care Equity and the HERstory of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks: Immortalizing her Legacy

Dr. Alford will present “The HER Story of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks: Immortalizing her Legacy”, a talk that examines how the life and cells of Henrietta Lacks transformed modern medicine while raising profound questions about ethics, race and justice. Drawing from her 2012 article HeLa Cells and Unjust Enrichment in the Human Body exploring the legal and historical dimensions of the Lacks case, its impact on the family’s pursuit of justice and its lessons for equity in medical research.

Deleso A. Alford is the Humanity Matters Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico, affiliated with both the School of Medicine and School of Law. Her work bridges law, healthcare, and ethics using what she calls “HER stories”—the lived experiences of Black women in research, medicine and society. She earned her B.S. (Psychology, magna cum laude), J.D., and LL.M., and a certificate in Clinical Bioethics. She has been honored by the AALS, inducted into Southern University Law Center’s Hall of Fame, and continues to push for healthcare practices that treat patients with dignity and respect.