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Kyla M. Clark
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Washington – Today, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) will host a “Policy for the People” Health Equity Virtual series from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. This two-part health equity summit will address access to equitable health resources in maternal care and issues with chronic illnesses disproportionately impacting Black communities. The “Policy for the People” Virtual Health Equity Summit provides attendees the opportunity to engage in an in-depth discussion with subject-matter experts, business leaders, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Both sessions will be hosted as a live virtual event and broadcast on CBCF’s virtual event platform. Registration for this two-part health equity summit is free and open to the public on cbcfinc.org/events.

Part one of this summit, titled “Black Maternal Health Global to Local” will discuss the factors contributing to disparities; how social determinants of health are critical factors for maternal mortality; what programs can low-income earning women engage with to bridge the gap; generational health; and health workers in the US. According to World Health Organization reports, globally, an estimated 810 women die each day due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Invited speakers for session one include Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Terri Sewell, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Rep. Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust; Rep. Lauren Underwood, co-founder, and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus; Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus; Dr. Rahel Nardos, Associate Professor, Director of Global Women’s Health, University of Minnesota; Meghan McKenzie, Principal Inclusion, Patient Inclusion, and Health Equity, Genentech; Rose Tchwenko, Country Director, Ghana, CARE; Pandora Hardtman, Chief Nursing, and Midwifery Officer, JHPIEGO; Desiree′ Solomon, Research Program Analyst, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Part two of this summit, titled “Heavy Heart” The Impact of Heart Disease on Black Communities,” will discuss how social determinants of health affect our communities; how hypertension, obesity, and diabetes impact patient’s; how genetics and family history affect heart disease risk; how patients can monitor their health; helpful tips to monitor your risk factors; and how the widespread distrust of healthcare has increased due to clinical research within Black communities. Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the United States, but this disease disproportionately impacts African American communities. For example, African Americans ages 18-49 are two times as likely to die from heart disease than whites, according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Invited speakers for session two include Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Terri Sewell, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Rep. Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust; Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Dr. Monica Webb Hooper, Deputy Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; Dr. Michelle A. Albert, Doctor of Cardiology, Chair in Cardiology, and Professor of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco; Dr. Abena A. Osei-Wusu, Medical Director, Atherosclerosis, Novartis; and Judge Ngang, Executive Director, Representation in Clinical Research, Amgen.

Registration for this two-part health equity summit is free and open to the public. Visit cbcfinc.org/events to register and learn more. The official hashtag for this event is #PolicyforthePeople. Full bios are included below.

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About the CBCF

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

To receive updates on CBCF news, research, programs, and events subscribe to receive the e-newsletter and follow @CBCFinc on Twitter and Instagram.

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Historical and contemporary injustices and medical mistrust directly contribute to health disparities among Black communities. These disparities are presented in the rate at which Black communities are impacted by adverse health and suffer from preventable harm due to differences in access to healthcare and the quality of care received. Black Americans experience higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, maternal mortality, infant mortality, and other health issues. Social factors directly contribute to increased risk factors and the ability to attain health insurance coverage in Black communities.

Policy reform and social change movements are pathways to systematically deconstruct barriers to health care and improve the quality of care our communities receive. Health equity is an issue of persistent importance, as gaps in access to care can worsen community health outcomes in the face of a national health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us on Thursday, May 12, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST as we discuss these critical issues, share milestones of progress, and establish a framework for improved health in our community at the Policy for the People Health Equity Summit.

This two-part event series seeks to bring the most pressing issues in policy to the access of all Americans and provide a forum for thought leaders to engage in policy discourse and align efforts and strategies to enact lasting change. Congressional Black Caucus members, clinical professionals, and thought leaders are working together to combat these issues and create health systems where Black communities can achieve health equity.

During the summit’s first session, a coalition of clinical practitioners and leaders in academia will discuss the issue of maternal mortality impacting Black communities in the United States and Abroad. This session will address the cultural and societal factors contributing to poor maternal health outcomes in low-resource countries and the developed world. During the second session, cardiologists and other leaders in the health equity movement will discuss their current efforts to address these gaps in care. Panelists will also provide practical guidance for community members to monitor and identify risk factors that make Black communities more susceptible to heart disease.

About Desiree

Desiree Solomon is the Research Program Analyst at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) and oversees research and policy programming across CPAR’s priority areas in Health Equity, Voter Empowerment, Tech equity, and supports the work of the National Racial Equity Initiative. With a background in foreign affairs and human security Desiree aims to identify issues impacting the global Black community, highlight areas of solidarity, and craft opportunities for policy dialogue and increased awareness for the CBC constituency.

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