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On Thursday, September 17, 2020, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) hosted a virtual symposium to highlight state, tribal, territorial and community-based efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities virtual symposium featured national, state, tribal and local experts leading efforts developed for public health leaders at all levels and community organizations confronting the pandemic.
The virtual event began with HHS Secretary Alex Azar welcoming 3,600 attendees to the event, along with RADM Felicia Collins, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director of HHS Office of Minority Health, who led the symposium charge. The keynote address was delivered by ADM Brett Giroir, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, which then shifted to plenary and breakout sessions with topics covering data, perspectives, responses and solutions for addressing COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The closing plenary, moderated by Leandris Liburd, Chief Health Equity Officer, Director of Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was followed by a call to action given by VADM Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of the United States. The introduction of a new learning community and closing remarks was provided by Roslyn Holliday Moore, Deputy Director for Programs, Office of Minority Health.
If you were unable to attend the virtual symposium, below you will find the recordings, objectives and presentation slides for all sessions. Additionally, under Resource Hall, you will find tools and resources on data, testing, vaccine, clinical trials, and more to support efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Alex Azar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services welcomes participants to the virtual event followed by RADM Felicia Collins, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who provides a charge to participants. ADM Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides the keynote address highlighting key themes and the Department’s commitment to addressing COVID-19 disparities.
Secretary Alex Azar, JD, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
RADM Felicia Collins, MD, MPH, FAAP, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
ADM Brett Giroir, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This session provides background and context about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minority populations using the latest data. Additionally, the session discusses the importance of and recommendations for collecting and using race/ethnicity data to ensure an equitable response.
Sela Panapasa, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Johnnie (Chip) Allen, MPH, Director, Office of Health Equity, Ohio Department of Health
Stephen Thomas, PhD, Professor Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health; Director, Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland
This session highlights state and local efforts to collect, analyze, and utilize data to inform COVID-19 crisis response and recovery efforts for racial and ethnic minority populations.
Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of Arizona
Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, MPH, Branch Manager and Epidemiologist, Office of Health Equity, Kentucky Department for Public Health; President, National Association of State Offices of Minority Health
Matías Valenzuela, PhD, Equity Director, Public Health - Seattle & King County, and Director of Community Mitigation and Recovery, COVID-19
This session highlights state, territorial, and tribal perspectives and recommendations for applying a health equity lens to COVID-19 response efforts.
Winston Wong, MD, MS, FAAFP, Chair and Acting CEO, National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians
Sandra Brown, DNS, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAANP, FAAN, Dean and Professor, College of Nursing and Allied Health, Southern University and A&M Baton Rouge; Co-Chair, Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
Darielys Cordero, MPH, DrPhc, Special Programs Director, Puerto Rico Primary Healthcare Association
Stacy A. Bohlen, Chief Executive Officer, National Indian Health Board (invited)
This session highlights promising/effective community-centered approaches for COVID-19 response to racial and ethnic minority populations with a focus on cultural and linguistic appropriateness.
Sheri-Ann Daniels, EdD, MSCP, BS, CSAC, Executive Director, Papa Ola Lōkahi
Ngozi O. Ezike, MD, Director, Illinois Department of Public Health
Puni Jackson, Program Director, Ho’oulu ‘Āina, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Megan Kiyomi Inada, DrPH, MPH, BS, Research Coordinator, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
This session highlights promising community-centered, place-based approaches for COVID-19 responses for racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD, MS, Senior Vice President, Community Health & Equity, Chief Wellness & Diversity Officer, Henry Ford Health System
Hannah Sehn, Executive Director, Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment
Gabriel Chamie, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Unidos en Salud/United in Health – San Francisco Project
Carina Marquez, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Unidos en Salud/United in Health – San Francisco Project
Denise Octavia Smith, MBA, CHW, Executive Director, National Association of Community Health Workers
This session highlights state and local efforts to engage and involve leaders and members in the assessment of community needs and COVID-19 response.
Linda D. Bane Frizzell, PhD, MS, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Indian Health Board, Governing Board
Ala Stanford, MD, Pediatric Surgeon and Founder, Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium
Sudarshan Pyakurel, Executive Director, Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio
The closing plenary is moderated by Leandris Liburd, Chief Health Equity Officer, Director of Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed by a call to action for participants, delivered by VADM Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of the United States. The introduction of a new learning community and closing remarks is given by Roslyn Holliday Moore, Deputy Director for Programs, Office of Minority Health.
Leandris Liburd, PhD, MPH, MA, Chief Health Equity Officer, Director of Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
VADM Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, Surgeon General of the United States
Roslyn Holliday Moore, MS, Deputy Director for Programs, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) Website
WEB LINK
OMH Knowledge Center: Pandemics and Minority Populations Historical Reports
PDF LINK
HHS Fact Sheet: HHS Initiatives to Address the Disparate Impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and Other Racial and Ethnic Minorities
CDC Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Think Cultural Health E-Learning Programs Information
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