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Austin, Indiana's Hidden Epidemic: A Talk by Dr. William Cooke In-Person
Join us for a talk by Dr. William Cooke, author of Canary in the Coal Mine: A Forgotten Rural Community, a Hidden Epidemic, and a Lone Doctor Battling for the Life, Health, and Soul of the People. In 2015 the small town of Austin, Indiana, became the epicenter of two unprecedented healthcare disasters: a national opioid epidemic and the worst HIV outbreak ever seen in rural America. As Austin’s only physician, Dr. Cooke found himself uniquely positioned to take action, battling prejudice, political resistance, and entrenched bureaucracy for the health and wellness of his community. Dr. Cooke will discuss this experience, as well as the toxic social conditions that lead to increased disease and death in our communities, and what we can do to reduce suffering.
William Cooke, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has been credentialed as an American Academy of HIV Medicine Specialist. His work has been covered by CBS, NBC, PBS, the BBC, USA Today, the New York Times, NPR, and others. In 2019 he was named the Family Physician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians and received the Ryan White Distinguished Leadership Award. He lives in New Albany, Indiana, with his wife, Melissa, and their six children.