In an effort to inspire, support and guide the health equity conversation in Los Angeles County, L.A. Care Health Plan hosted a Health Equity Conference, bringing together leaders across the industry to discuss bridging gaps in healthcare.
Welcomed by L.A. Care’s new Chief Executive Officer, Martha Santana-Chin, the keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Ross, formerly with The California Endowment. Dr. Ross inspired attendees to continue to be advocates for health equity, and the day included numerous related topics:
Screening for Social Drivers of Health (SDOH): What Role Providers Play and Addressing Needs Outside of the Clinical Walls
Cal AIM: What Resources Exist for Housing Needs
Addressing Burnout: How to Keep Moving Forward with Health Equity Efforts
Supporting Healthy and Joyful Black Births
LGBTQ+ Communities: What Role Providers Play and How to be Inclusive
Social Determinants of Health Data Collection and Electronic Medical Records Integration
Speakers included:
- Howard Padwa, PhD, UCLA, Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs
- Shannon Bradley, MBA, CDP, LSSGB, Chief Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Keck Medicine of USC
- Jeffery Ring, PhD, White Memorial Hospital
- Sylvia Gates Carlisle, MD, Association of Black Women Physicians
- Priya Batra, MD, MS, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
- Bee Curiel, MSW, The TransLatin@ Coalition
- Mel Escalante Gonzalez, B.S. Culture and Politics, The Translatin@ Coalition
The conference was held Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Los Angeles General Medical Center.