A portrait in motion
Scholar. Poet. Healer.
A short film exploring the life and legacy of Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
Watch the Film
Featuring Dr. Mendenhall's work across genomics, poetry, documentary film, and community healing
“We must recreate the circle — a collective vision for radical African healing in community.”
Community Wellness Address
— Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
What she does
A Life at the Intersection
Research & Policy
Investigating the effects of structural violence on health and using genomics to understand resilience. Her groundbreaking work uses genomics and supercomputing to understand the biological effects of racism and poverty on Black women's bodies.
Learn moreCreative Works
Poetry, documentary film, and visual arts as tools for healing and storytelling. Through poetry and documentary film, she transforms data into stories that move hearts and give voice to lived experiences.
Learn moreCommunity Engagement
Creating wellness spaces and training youth health workers to democratize health innovation. Through SASH Homes and the Communiversity, she builds bridges between academic research and community healing.
Learn more“Recreating the circle”
Anthem Award Winner
"What's Left Behind?" documentary wins an Anthem Award for its exploration of gun violence in Black communities.
Health Equity Keynote
Keynote address at the University of Chicago on the future of health equity research and community-driven science.
Supercomputing Workshop
Hands-on workshop at NCSA exploring how supercomputing can advance social science and community health research.