More than 1,000 people gathered in Kansas City, Mo for the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference on May 7th. Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, emphasized the importance of partnerships among hospitals, health systems, patients, community members, and public health organizations in addressing and eliminating barriers to equitable healthcare.
Keynote speaker Clint Smith, author of “How the Word Is Passed” and a staff writer at The Atlantic, delivered remarks that resonated with attendees. Breakout sessions focused on strategies for hospitals to address social determinants of health, such as integrating screening and referral systems in electronic health records and collaborating with community-based organizations to enhance care coordination. Leaders from ChristianaCare, Memorial Healthcare System, and LSU Health Sciences Center shared insights during these sessions.
During the opening session, five health organizations – Essentia Health, John Muir Health, University Hospitals, Munson Healthcare
