President’s Forum on Health Disparities, in partnership with the JPB Fellowship Program
On Oct 16-17, the University at Albany hosted its signature annual event, the President’s Forum on Health Disparities, in partnership with the JPB Fellowship Program.
This year’s Forum explored environmental and social determinants of health and the importance of bridging disciplines for health equity research and action. JPB Fellow Allison Appleton (Cohort I) partnered with the UAlbany Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities to plan and deliver the 2-day program, which featured three Cohort III Fellows as panelists and Keynote JPB Fellow Diana Hernandez (Cohort I), in addition to local environmental justice and community partners. Cohort III fellow speakers included Betty Lin, MyDzung Chu, and Leah Schinasi, who shared their work on a panel presentation titled “Multilevel Approaches in Socio-Environmental Research”, which included themes of risk and resilience of immigrant enclaves confronting environmental inequities, policy and workplace heat vulnerability, and the lasting effects of structural racism on reproductive health.
Allison Appleton and Jack Spengler, JPB Fellowship Program Director, moderated the discussion. Day two activities continued with an hour-long conversation between Forum Keynote speaker Diana Hernández and the University at Albany President Dr. Havidan Rodríguez. They discussed her work, their shared lived experiences with Puerto Rico and the Bronx, and her new book, Powerless: A People’s Struggle for Energy. It was an amazing conversation. The program continued with Diana’s book talk and engagement with UAlbany students, and concluded with book signing. It was a great event!
The President’s Forum on Health Disparities is hosted annually by the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEHD) at the University at Albany. The event is intended to promote research on health disparities, foster engagement and collaboration, and contribute to the achievement of health equity.
Photo by: Brian Busher
