Sustaining the Commitment to Health Equity
Attending the annual Health Equity Trends Summit in Massachusetts feeds my soul. This year was no different. In fact, with the mounting federal headwinds (now a hurricane), we needed it more than ever. It’s a reminder that we are not alone in our quest for justice, and that Massachusetts can (and is) continuing to lead the way. I felt the solidarity in the packed room.
Lt Governor Kim Driscoll opened the day with some inspiring remarks. She reminded us that health equity is a core value, and that Massachusetts will continue to lead the way, just as we have in so many historic and pathbreaking areas, including establishing public schools and libraries, legalizing gay marriage, and implementing health reform. As she said, people come to Massachusetts to solve hard problems. We don’t wait for others to solve them. We may not have all the answers, but we are willing to try, and we are willing to learn.
She was followed by several powerful panel discussions, focused on primary care and community health workers. The question isn’t whether these approaches work, but whether we are willing to invest in what works. In the case of primary care, it was observed that those countries with the most resources spend the least share on primary and preventive care, compared to those countries with the least resources. We need to change this! Our collective health outcomes would be significantly improved.
Key Takeaways:
Massachusetts is not backing down. Health equity is a core value, and federal budget cuts won’t undo that.
We remain present, committed, and powerful. Through connecting, on days like this, we can strengthen our collective will to make good change.
We can turn challenges into opportunities. To do so, we need to persist, and to keep innovating and collaborating.
We must learn and evolve, by listening deeply, engaging in dialogue, and adapting.
Progress isn’t born from standing still. “Like water, we can continue to move, and to shape the obstacles ahead of us.”
We stand ready at Day Health Strategies to work with boards and CEOs who want to embrace these takeaways and sustain their commitment to health equity. Contact us today if you'd like some help.
As our summit MC said so beautifully, "None of us are healthy until all of us are healthy." (Thank you to our MC, Rahsaan D. Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, for calling this out.)
In solidarity,
Rosemarie Day
Founder & CEO of Day Health Strategies
