The annual Dr. Reaner and Mr. Henry Shannon Lectureship in Minority Health was developed to create awareness about health disparities. Through a yearly lectureship held the last Friday in February, medical professionals, students, residents and the local community gain access to information about timely issues that impact under-served and minority communities.

Past Lectureship Speakers
- 2019 Altha J. Stewart, M.D., President, the American Psychiatric Association
- 2018 Michael Moncure, M.D., Professor, Department of Surgery, UMKC School of Medicine
- 2017 Daphne Bascom, M.D., Ph.D, Senior Vice President of Community Integrated Health for the Greater Kansas City YMCA
- 2016 J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., M.S.C.E., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- 2015 Louis Sullivan, M.D., Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
- 2014 Henry B. Randall, M.D., F.A.C.S, director, Henry and Marion Block Liver Disease and Transplant Center, Kanas City
- 2013 Jose Manuel de la Rosa, M.D., vice president for health affairs at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso and founding dean at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
- 2012 Karan Baucom, M.D., F.A.A.R.M., ’75, medical director for the Baucom Institute for Longevity and Life Enhancement
- 2011 Dr. Eve Higginbotham, Senior VP and Executive Dean, Health Sciences at Howard University
- 2010 Dr. Dana Thompson (’91), Professor, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2009 Dr. Nevada Lee, Medical Director, Continua Hospice and Bethlehem Home Health
- 2008 Dr. Gloria Wilder-Brathwaite, President/CEO, Core Health; Founder of Justice Speaks
- 2007 Dr. Tim Hickman, Associate Dean of Curriculum, UMKC School of Medicine
- 2006 Dr. Jocelyn Elders, former U.S. Surgeon General