Wake Forest University School of Divinity Announces 10th Annual John W. Hatch Lecture and Symposium

“The exemplary life of Dr. John W. Hatch reminds us that health justice is not simply a policy aspiration, but a moral imperative rooted in the sacred call of community, dignity, and environmental stewardship,” said Dean Corey D. B. Walker. “As we mark the tenth anniversary of this landmark gathering, we do so with deep gratitude for the diverse leaders and institutions who join us in confronting the complex challenges facing communities across the nation. This event embodies the courageous, visionary, and transformative spirit that defines Dr. Hatch’s enduring legacy.”

The 2025 symposium will feature two nationally renowned leaders whose work sits at the forefront of environmental justice, health equity, and public policy:

• Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University, widely regarded as the “father of environmental justice,” and
• Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School, a leading scholar on racial disparities in health and the legal structures that shape them.

The symposium will also feature a luncheon conversation on Medicaid, featuring:

• Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt, North Carolina State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer
• Jessica Schubel, Former Special Assistant to President Biden for Health Care
• Melissa Rogers, Distinguished Scholar in Residence in Faith, Law, and Public Policy, Wake Forest University School of Divinity

This conversation will explore the complex and evolving landscape of Medicaid expansion, access, policy, and the moral and civic obligations that shape public health decision-making for low-income communities across North Carolina and the nation.

The keynote lectures and luncheon conversation will frame a full day of critical dialogue on this year’s theme, “Faith, Health, and the Environment: The Demands for Justice.” Panels and conversations will explore how faith communities, public health institutions, and environmental justice organizations can work together to build equitable and sustainable health futures for all. As part of this ongoing work, the symposium will also contribute to shaping a “Just Health Manifesto,” a collaborative framework for inclusive health equity and transformative justice.

Presented in partnership with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Law, the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health, the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the National Association of Federally Qualified Health Centers, and numerous community organizations with support from the Mellon Foundation, the Hatch Lecture and Symposium remains a leading forum for advancing community-driven justice initiatives.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration information is available here on the School of Divinity’s website.

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About the Wake Forest University School of Divinity

Founded in 1999, Wake Forest University School of Divinity is a graduate, professional school that is Christian by tradition, Baptist in heritage, and ecumenical in outlook. Guided by the University’s motto, Pro Humanitate, the School prepares leaders informed by a theological understanding of vocation and equipped to serve as agents of justice, reconciliation in a complex world. The School offers masters and doctoral degree programs including dual degree programs in bioethics, counseling, education, law, management, and sustainability.

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