Health Equity Compact

Yesterday was an exciting day for the future of health equity – Atrius Health Equity Foundation, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Boston Community Health Collaborative officially announced their new multi-sector partnership, “Live Long and Well Boston.” This initiative will infuse $10M to address racial, ethnic, and neighborhood gaps in health outcomes, support community-led priorities, and promote healthier, longer lives for all Boston residents. At our Health Equity Trends Summit in June, we had an opportunity to learn about this exciting partnership aiming to tackle the social and economic factors influencing how long and how well we live. Through collaboration and collective action, we can reduce life expectancy disparities. “In order to close these gaps, we need to focus on drivers of poor health that exist outside the walls of health care institutions, like poverty and economic inequality. This will require a collaborative, whole-of-society, multi-sector approach," said Compact Member and BPHC Commissioner of Public Health & Executive Director, Dr. Bisola Ojikutu. Learn more below!

Thanks to The Bay State Banner newspaper for highlighting our equity and community focus at the Boston Public Health Commission. It takes a village comprised of incredibly dedicated staff to get this work done. Thanks to all of our partners in this work, including (and certainly not limited to) the Health Equity Compact, Atrius Health Equity Foundation, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA). Avery Bleichfeld (Banner reporter) is writing a series on Black leaders in STEM in Boston. Stay tuned to see who is profiled next. #STEMleaders #diversityinscience

A tremendous win for #HealthEquity in Massachusetts! On Thursday, the House voted unanimously to pass an omnibus maternal health bill that will allow licensing for certified professional midwives and lactation consultations, remove barriers to open birth centers, expand access to postpartum depression screenings, and raise awareness of mood and anxiety disorders due to pregnancy loss. Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of severe maternal morbidity in the country. This is an important moment in charting a new path forward for maternal health outcomes, particularly among people of color. Thank you to House Speaker Ron Mariano, Joint Committee on Public Health Chair Marjorie Decker, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Chair John Lawn, Representative Christopher Worrell, and Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, Esq. for your work to advance this important legislation. Read more here: https://bit.ly/45Lbu10 #HealthEquityCompact #MaternalHealthOutcomes #MAPoli

A great afternoon showcasing health equity champions at the Boston Globe Media's Health Equity Summit! Thank you Chris Reddick and Dorosella Green, MS-PREP for creating the space to focus on community health workers and to John Hancock for Health Equity Compact member Monica Bharel MD, MPH's live podcast with Janet Wu, spotlighting Monica's continued work and leadership to eradicate health inequities in Massachusetts. Favorite take-aways: Ashish Jha explaining how health equity-focused job training programs are an example of structural change. Sheila Och, MPH and Lissette Blondet giving examples of how equitable access to health care isn't possible without community health workers. Kate Wallis referencing The Time is Now report; the status quo is not sustainable and we have to move the needle. "Heath equity is not optional." #healthequitycompact #healthequitynow #healthequityvoter Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, PhD. MBA, CDM, SHRM-SCP Ann Hwang Amie Shei

Thank you @JALSA_boston for recognizing the Health Equity Compact and for your allyship and solidarity in pursuit of social and racial justice for all marginalized communities

Reflecting on our 2024 Health Equity Trends Summit last week, we’re still feeling energized from the packed room filled with collaboration, leadership and concrete examples of action making structural changes within our health system.    In case you missed it, check out this great recap from Avery Bleichfeld of The Bay State Banner newspaper. https://lnkd.in/eFT7_C-u    #HETS2024 #HealthEquityInAction #HealthEquityCompact  

“𝐵𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑟. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠-𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦.” In recognition of Community Health Worker (CHW) Week, we’re highlighting the work of CHWs and Compact member Lissette Blondet, executive director of the MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (MACHW). At MACHW, Lissette leads a network of 1,300 CHWs and their allies, offering services to strengthen their professional identity and integrate them into all aspects of health care through education, research, policy development and advocacy. In Lissette’s words, CHWs are the alchemists of health care access. CHWs, many of whom are women of color, bring to their roles an intimate knowledge of their community, their own lived experience, core competencies and fantastic creativity to help their clients navigate the health care landscape. They help fill gaps for providers who aren’t always attuned to the unique health needs of communities of color, providing access to resources for clients who may otherwise feel unempowered or unwelcome in the health system. By uplifting CHWs, we can better create a community-centered workforce that is uniquely positioned to develop responsive solutions to health inequities in our neighborhoods. CHWs go the extra mile to provide tailored and innovative solutions for patients to overcome structural barriers to necessary care services. On June 12, Lissette will join Boston Globe Media and Compact members Chris Reddick and Sheila Och, MPH for an engaging discussion on how Massachusetts can advance health equity through CHWs. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/45mU8HC #CHWWeek #CHW #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquityCompact

This Wednesday is Health Equity Day 2024. Come together at WBUR CitySpace in Boston with health leaders, medical experts, and community advocates for an afternoon dedicated to reducing health disparities and advancing more inclusive care. We'll kick off with a headlining fireside chat with Dr. Ashish K. Jha moderated by reporter Adam Piore, and close with a networking reception for all attendees. Register to join in person or virtually: https://trib.al/P7mIHlc Thank you to our sponsors and partners: Sanofi, John Hancock, Point32Health, Takeda, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Partners In Health, Health Equity Compact, and @[Health Resources in Action (HRiA)].

What an incredible day! The Compact’s 2024 Health Equity Trends Summit convened hundreds of leaders across sectors for a day full of discussions and actions aimed at achieving breakthrough health equity reform across the Commonwealth.     Summit speakers dove into inspiring examples of #HealthEquityinAction and emphasized the work that remains to be done on systemic, community and personal levels. The day included insightful conversations on health equity initiatives that have emerged in the last year and dynamic talks that addressed future-facing issues; such as our panel on the role AI plays in racial health equity, highlighting how we can center and prioritize voices of communities of color in the age of AI.     Being in the presence of so many health equity champions with a deep commitment to this work was inspiring and motivating. Together we’re here to continue collaborating and problem-solving, to turn this vision of health equity into a reality for all.    Thank you to Governor Maura Healey, Senator Cindy FRIEDMAN and Representative John Lawn for joining us and your commitment to prioritizing health equity in our state.     We’d like to thank all our attendees, speakers, elected officials and staff who made this day possible, and to UMass Boston for opening your space to us. Our collective advocacy efforts are key in keeping this momentum going so that everyone in Massachusetts has a fair opportunity to live a long, healthy life.     #HETS2024 #HealthEquityInAction #HealthEquityCompact #MAPoli 

Today is the day! We’re here at UMass Boston for the 2024 Health Equity Trends Summit. This year’s theme is 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. We will follow up on leader’s commitments from our first Summit, showcase progress over the past year, discuss future opportunities, and foster more in-depth engagement and connection. Check out today’s agenda below and tune in virtually here. https://lnkd.in/eZxYT94Q. 🔵 9:00 am – 10:00 am – 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 from Michael Curry, Esq., Governor Maura Healey, Marcelo M Suarez-Orozco, Senator Cindy FRIEDMAN, Representative John Lawn, and MC Sheila Och, MPH. 🔵 10:00 am – 10:50 am – 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 moderated by Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, with Michele Courton Brown, Juan Fernando Lopera, Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, and Kate Wallis. 🔵 11:00 am – 11:55 am – 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 Boston Medical Center (BMC)'s 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 moderated by Giavanna Gaskin, with Tabitha D. Cherilus, Jason Flood, Thea James, MD, MPH, MBA, Petrina Martin Cherry, Megan O’Brien and Catalina Sanchez. 🔵 11:55 am – 12:45 pm – 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 moderated by Rahsaan Hall, with Renee Crichlow MD, FAAFP, Marzyeh Ghassemi, and Kade Crockford. 🔵 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 moderated by Amie Shei, with Massachusetts Secretaries Yvonne Hao, Lauren Jones, and Commissioner Robert Goldstein. 🔵 2:25 pm – 3:05 pm – 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 with Jessica del Rosario, Leo Blandford, and Mary Giannetti. 🔵 3:05 pm – 3:45 pm –  𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 with Ann Hwang, Bisola Ojikutu, and Mary Ellen McIntyre. 🔵 3:45 pm – 4:00 PM – 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 from Sheila Och. #HETS2024 #MAPoli #HealthEquityCompact