School of Public Health

SPH Hosts Shelby County Health Department Speaker Series Session on HIV with Deputy Administrator Corry Owens Jr.

Friday, 23 October 2026

The University of Memphis School of Public Health (UofM SPH) hosted its second Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) Speaker Series event of the semester with Corry Owens Jr., MBA, Deputy Administrator of the SCHD Ryan White Program. The event provided SPH students, faculty and staff with insights into local HIV care infrastructure and future collaborative opportunities to combat the HIV epidemic in the Mid-South.

During his presentation, Mr. Owens emphasized the importance of the Ryan White Program within Shelby County, which, according to SCHD data, experiences one of the fastest-growing rates of new HIV infections in the nation, approximately three times higher than the national average.

Currently, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program serves as the largest federal safety-net initiative in the United States, specifically tailored for individuals living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. The program provides vital funding to cities, counties, states and local community-based organizations.

In addition to detailing the program's local impact, Mr. Owens outlined strategic pathways for enhanced collaboration between the University of Memphis School of Public Health and the SCHD. The discussion highlighted actionable ways both institutions can align research, resources and community outreach to directly address and mitigate the ongoing HIV epidemic in Memphis and the broader Mid-South region.

Mr. Corry Owens Jr., Deputy Administrator of the SCHD Ryan White Program

Mr. Corry Owens Jr. with Speaker Series Participants

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For Media Inquiries contact: SPHCommunications@memphis.edu
The Office of Communications at The University of Memphis School of Public Health