On May 7, over 1,000 people gathered at the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The conference emphasized the importance of partnerships among hospitals, health systems, patients, community members, and public health organizations in addressing and eliminating barriers to equitable healthcare. Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, led the charge in this regard.
Clint Smith, author of “How the Word Is Passed” and a staff writer at The Atlantic, served as the keynote speaker at the conference. His remarks resonated with attendees and highlighted the need for greater collaboration between different stakeholders in healthcare. Breakout sessions focused on strategies for hospitals to address social determinants of health such as integrating screening and referral systems in electronic health records and collaborating with community-based organizations to enhance care coordination. Leaders from ChristianaCare, Memorial Healthcare System, and LSU Health Sciences Center shared their insights during these sessions.
CHRISTUS Health and LMH Health led discussions on leadership and governing boards’ role in prioritizing health equity within healthcare organizations. During the opening session, five health organizations – Essentia Health, John Muir Health, University Hospitals, Munson Healthcare, and Palomar Health – were recognized with the AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award by Conroy for their commitment to advancing health equity.