Breaking Down Barriers: AHA Conference Emphasizes Health Equity Through Partnerships and Leadership

On May 7, more than 1,000 people gathered for the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The conference kicked off with an opening session led by Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 chair of the AHA Board of Trustees. Dr. Conroy emphasized the importance of partnerships among hospitals, health systems, patients, community members, and organizations focused on community and public health. These partnerships play a critical role in identifying and eliminating barriers to equitable healthcare.

The opening day of the conference featured keynote remarks from Clint Smith, a bestselling author of “How the Word Is Passed” and a staff writer at The Atlantic. Participants also had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions focused on addressing social determinants of health within hospitals. These sessions included discussions on integrating screening and referral systems into electronic health records and collaborating with community-based organizations to improve care coordination.

Speakers from ChristianaCare, Memorial Healthcare System, and LSU Health Sciences Center shared their insights and experiences in this area.

Furthermore, representatives from CHRISTUS Health and LMH Health led a discussion on strategies for leadership and governing boards to prioritize health equity within their organizations.

The conference recognized five health organizations with the AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award: Essentia Health, John Muir Health, University Hospitals, Munson Healthcare, and Palomar Health.

Overall, attendees gained valuable insights into effective approaches to advancing health equity and improving healthcare outcomes for all individuals.