Health Equity Blogs

Who exactly is a “stakeholder” when it comes to improving health equity?

Communities of color, who over the past year have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, also experienced emotional distress exacerbated by events surrounding the murder of George Floyd.

AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity has been working for more than 25 years to advance health equity, diversity and inclusion by supporting hospitals, health systems, patients and communities. While the health care field has made some progress, we still have a long way to go. 

By integrating behavioral health into physical care and tapping into community partnerships, hospitals and health systems can develop culturally competent clinical solutions to better serve historically underrepresented individuals, writes Manish Sapra, M.D., executive director of the behavioral health service line at New York-based Northwell Health. Read more in this blog, and find more resources on AHA’s Minority Mental Health Awareness Month page.

COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on Black, Latino, Native Americans and other communities of color is well-documented and deeply troubling. It’s also the latest in a long history of health inequities and health disparities affecting racial minorities in our society. 

COVID-19 has been a learning experience on many fronts. Every facet of our health care system has been affected by the pandemic — from providers to patients to hospital and health system CEOs — and we will be sorting out lessons learned for some time to come. 

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, events sparked by the murder of George Floyd increased the constant exposure to stress in communities of color, a detriment to one’s physical and mental health, writes Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D., senior vice president of community health and equity and chief wellness and diversity officer at Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System, and chairperson of AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity Leadership Council. In this blog in conjunction with July as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month read her call to action to making behavioral health accessible to all.

In Bellingham, Wash., the PeaceHealth clinic is using community health workers, or promotoras, to help educate farmworkers in rural communities about the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 

A history-making event that changed the lives of Black Americans more than 150 years ago is now being recognized as a federal holiday. With the stroke of a pen, President Biden signed a bill establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day – commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S..

In this AHA Advancing Health podcast, Leon Caldwell, AHA’s senior director of health equity strategies and in

Each June, LGBTQ people and supporters join together to recognize Pride Month - celebrating history and advocating for continued change. Although Pride is now widely celebrated, it is important to note that the journey to an inclusive Pride is ongoing.

Hospitals and health system leaders are committing to increasing diversity and inclusion in the board room.

Today’s podcast features how Esperanza Health Centers - a federally qualified health center in Chicago – has worked to keep their community healthy throughout the pandemic.

Reliance on digital tools can exacerbate barriers to care among certain populations and may be less accessible to people with limited English proficiency. As these technologies become ubiquitous, now is the time to examine digital health from an equity lens to ensure that no community is left behind.

Tomorrow, May 25, marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His death shined a spotlight on the systemic racism and inequities in many aspects of our society. These include inequities in health and health care. 

In this podcast, Rochelle Archuleta, director of post acute care policy for the AHA, is joined by Dr. Kimberly Avila Edwards, Director of Advocacy and External Affairs, and Jaeson Fournier, chief executive officer at Community Care, about their collaboration to develop a successful mass vaccination campaign targeting the Latino community in the Austin, Texas.

Priya Bathija, vice president of AHA’s Strategic Initiatives, and Robyn Begley, CEO of American Organization for Nursing Leadership and chief nursing officer and senior vice president at the AHA, discuss the role of nurses in achieving health equity, screening for social needs and advocating for policy change.

What does it take to become an everyday champion for advancing health equity? How do hospitals and health systems successfully transition from planning to taking action and creating real cultural change? 

In this podcast, Doug Shaw, AHA senior vice president of field engagement, speaks with Rod Hochman, president and CEO of Providence and 2021 AHA Board Chair and Terry Myerson, CEO of Truveta, about the platform and its possibilities.

In this episode, I was delighted to talk with Stacey Stewart, president and CEO of March of Dimes, and present her with AHA’s 2020 Award of Honor for her organization’s work during eight decades to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.