Health Equity Forums

April 27, 2023 -The Intersection of DEI & Health Equity

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to the experiences people of color face interacting in the workplace. Health Equity refers to the experiences people of color have when interacting with the healthcare system. This Health Equity Forum will be an interactive discussion on the intersection of DEI and health equity, commonalities between the two, what we have learned from DEI work that can be applied to health equity movement, and we can move the needle in creating more equitable experiences for everyone.

April 26, 2023 – COVID-19 and the Black Community: Where Do We Go From Here?

This Health Equity Forum session was an interactive discussion on COVID-19 and the impact on the Black community in a post-pandemic environment, what we all need to know about treatment options, and protecting our overall health and wellness. The session features Oliver Brooks, M.D, Interim CEO at Watts Healthcare; Jerry Abraham, MD, Director of Vaccines at Kedren Health Center; and Anna (Aziza) Lucas-Varnado, MEd, Assistant Professor, and Vice-Chair of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at Charles Drew University.

December 14, 2022 – Looking Ahead: Cancer Breakthroughs in Screening and Early Detection

This Health Forum discusses how finding and treating cancer at an early stage can save lives. This webinar discusses multi-cancer early detection tools.

May 19, 2022 – Clinical Trials and the Black Community – Past, Present, and Future

This Health Forum is in recognition of World Clinical Trials Day, CBHN invited Jeri Lacks and David Lacks III, of the Henrietta Lacks Family, to talk about their grandmother’s legacy, what the family has done over the years to ensure greater protection for patients in clinical trials, and the Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019 and what it means in addressing health disparities.

April 7, 2022, 12:00p PST – Historical Racism and Impact on Health Disparities

On April 7, California Black Health Network hosted a Health Equity Forum discussion featuring Courtney Walker, Pharm.D., R.Ph, Researcher and Medical Account Director at Novo Nordisk. This Health Equity Forum discussion with center on the origins of medical distrust, health disparities, and the black community.

January 18, 2022, 12:00p PST – Covered California and the Black Community

On January 18, California Black Health Network hosted a Health Equity Forum featuring Alice Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Covered California, on “Covered California and the Black Community”. It was an opportunity to ask questions and provide direct feedback to Covered California on how it can better address access to health coverage and the healthcare needs of Black Californians. Covered California actively works to ensure that all Californians can find affordable, high-quality healthcare coverage.

June 17, 2021, 12:00p PST – Black Men and Prostate Cancer

In the U.S., prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Prostate cancer represents 30% of all cancers among Black men, and 15% of cancer-related deaths. Unfortunately, Black men are twice as likely to die of prostate cancer compared to White males. This Health Equity Forum featured opening remarks from California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson on current bills to improve access to health services for colorectal and prostate cancer. The session also featured Pfizer’s immediate past Chief Patient Officer Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron who spoke about Pfizer’s multicultural and health equity initiatives, their efforts to address cancer disparities and encourage screening and early cancer detection, and their commitment to diversity in clinical trial participation. Dr. Richardson-Heron’s talk was followed by a panel discussion on prostate cancer disparities in Black men featuring Dr. Rick Kittles of City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and Mark Kennedy of Boston Public Health Commission’s Department of Population Sciences.

May 21, 2021, 1:00p PST – COVID-19: From Research to Community

The California Black Health Network hosted a conversation with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the NIH researcher who oversaw the development of the COVID-19 and Dr. Noha Aboelata, a champion for improving the health of marginalized communities. Attendees learned about the “real story” of the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and participated in an interactive Q&A about vaccine efficacy, safety, and confidence for the Black community. Click image below to view video.

March 24, 2021 12:00p PST – Women’s History Month Health Equity Forum
A conversation with Dr. Vivian Pinn, the inaugural full-time director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), followed by a Q&A. Dr. Pinn is a woman of many firsts, and has broken many glass ceilings in medicine during her stellar career. She was elected to Modern Healthcare’s Hall of Fame, the first African American woman to be so honored and is also a recipient of the New York Academy of Medicine Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Health Policy. Click image below to view video.

February 25, 2021, 12:30p PST – Black History Month Health Equity Forum
The California Black Health Network hosted a conversation with Jeri Lacks, granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks, followed by an audience Q&A to learn more about the “real story” of Henrietta Lacks, her contributions to medical research, what the family is doing in honor of her legacy, and what the new Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019 means for the Black community. Click image below to view video.