Celebrating 25 years: Looking back and leaping forward for health equity
The Connecticut Health Foundation turned 25 in 2024, and we celebrated with a conference aimed at bringing people together to discuss what the future of health equity looks like in Connecticut, and how we can work collaboratively to achieve those goals.
The impact of race and inequality on health
In her keynote address, author and journalist Linda Villarosa explained how American society and its health care system are set up in a way that results in Black people “living sicker and dying quicker” than their white counterparts.
highlighted how stereotypes from slavery in the U.S. continue to create barriers to good health in present day. For example, the myth that Black people have inferior lung function was, until recently, still a factor used in lung assessments that can impact eligibility for disability payments. She described how racism is at the core of the practice of medicine. The so-called father of modern gynecology, J. Marion Sims, experimented on enslaved women, believing in the misconception that Black people have a higher pain tolerance. A recent survey of medical students found that those false beliefs are still present and can lead to racial bias when treating pain. Linda also discussed the idea of weathering: how enduring stress related to racism can further impact the health of marginalized communities.
She highlighted several efforts to improve health outcomes for Black Americans including the passage of a bill in California that requires physicians to complete implicit bias training to combat maternal mortality, the work of community health workers, and the activism of medical students.
Learn more about Linda and her book here.
‘An all-hands-on-deck moment’
What can health systems, policy makers, community organizations, and others do to improve health outcomes, and how can we work together?
A diverse panel of experts discussed the roots of health disparities and potential solutions. The panel was moderated by STAT News journalist Usha Lee McFarling, who often writes about health disparities. Her stories are often featured in our weekly health news roundup.
Camille Burnett, vice president of health equity at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, said unequal health outcomes by race and ethnicity are not surprising.
“The system is designed to get you the results that you’re getting, and these results are embedded in the system,” she said.
She described the need to address these disparities as an “all-hands-on-deck moment.”
“We’re always trying to retrofit equity into an inequitable system, and we need to design and reimagine our systems so that they’re set up for equity and racial justice because they go together. You can’t do one without the other,” Camille said.
Anka Badurina, former executive director of Building One Community, spoke about her experiences with immigrant communities, who often experience poorer health outcomes.
She said empowering those communities is an important part of ensuring they can advocate for themselves in a health system that is not set up for their success.
The panelists said there is no single answer to achieving health equity; it will take many different approaches and it will take different groups working together.
“We need bold leadership to embrace structural change, and it has to be with people leading that issue that have credibility. People can talk about it, but if you’re in a position of influence, I think you have to step up and do it,” said Patrick Charmel, president and CEO of Griffin Health and a member of the foundation’s board.
Watch a recap of the panel discussion here.
A note from Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation:
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for all who participated in and attended our 25th anniversary event. As we celebrate 25 years of progress toward health equity in Connecticut, we recognize all of those who have worked so hard alongside us to make tremendous strides. It is our partners who make this work possible and inspire us to continue moving forward. While we are so proud of the growth we have seen in our state, we know there is more work to be done before every person in Connecticut has the opportunity to live their healthiest life possible. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and our commitment to achieving that goal.