Advancing Health Equity

We are thrilled to announce two incredible additions to our team who bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and global perspective to our mission of advancing health equity. Please join us in welcoming Dagmawit Teka and Mats Delsing! Dagmawit Teka joins us as a Junior Consultant with a deep commitment to health equity and maternal and child health. With four years of public health experience, Dagmawit has expertise in grant writing, health policy, and reproductive health. She is passionate about evaluating gender-based violence in low-income countries and improving maternal health outcomes for Black women in the U.S. Holding a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University, she has led complex data analyses, strategic research initiatives, and equity-driven evaluations. Outside work, she enjoys traveling, exploring museums, attending concerts, and spending time with loved ones. Dagmawit’s dedication to public health is rooted in her desire to give back to her community in Ethiopia, and we’re excited to see her impact here. Mats Delsing joins us as a Junior Consultant and recently relocated from the Netherlands, bringing a global perspective and strategic thinking to addressing health disparities. With a public health and strategic communications background, Mats is passionate about creating meaningful change in equitable healthcare. He believes in the power of listening to personal experiences to better understand the challenges people face and is committed to tackling these complexities head-on. Mats is eager to collaborate with colleagues and partners to advance equitable care in a time when it’s needed most. We are so fortunate to have both Dagmawit and Mats on board and look forward to the contributions they will make in advancing our shared mission. Please join us in celebrating their arrival!

Thank you for having me, Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity and Progress! It was wonderful to be able to share information about respiratory viruses and the vaccines that are available to protect us!

Message from our CEO: As we reflect on the recent election results, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our mission and the values that drive us forward every day. In times of change and uncertainty, one thing remains clear: the work of Advancing Health Equity has never been more urgent, nor has its impact been more critical. Health inequities do not wait for political cycles to shift, nor can we. The deep fissures in our healthcare system continue to affect countless lives, disproportionately impacting Black and other communities of color, those living in poverty, and other historically marginalized groups. But with challenge comes opportunity—a chance to recommit ourselves to the vision of a more just and equitable future. At Advancing Health Equity, we believe that health equity is not just an ideal but an actionable, achievable goal. It requires bold leadership, collective accountability, and a steadfast commitment to dismantling the barriers that stand between people and the care they deserve. Together, we can create systems that serve everyone, regardless of their race, zip code, or income level. Now, more than ever, we must come together as a community, as a nation, and as advocates for change. This work cannot be done in isolation. It demands collaboration across sectors, grassroots action, and the courage to challenge the status quo. To our partners, allies, and supporters: I thank you for standing with us. Your unwavering dedication fuels our progress and reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. To those who may feel uncertain about the election results, I urge you to take heart. Our collective power is immense, and our resolve is unshakable. Together, we will continue to fight for a future where health equity is not a privilege, but a universal reality. Yours in solidarity, Uché Blackstock, MD Founder and CEO Advancing Health Equity ---------------

Here’s a sneak preview from our Annual General Meeting last week! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and a special shout-out to our incredible speakers, who elevated the event by shining a light on important topics. ?? Some of our event highlights included: ?? Health Equity Fireside Chat with NYT Best-Selling Author, Dr. Uché Blackstock, MD, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity and Orriel Richardson, Head of Policy and Advocacy at JPMorganChase moderated by our co-founder and managing partner Jason Robart ??Panel on?Innovations in Virtual Behavioral Health?with Taft Parsons III, MD,?Chief Psychiatric Officer at CVS Health, Lauren Morrell, Co-founder and CEO of Willow Health, Katie Drasser, CEO of Rock Health, and Anjlee Joshi, Lead of Impact Investing at National Council for Mental Wellbeing, moderated by our Principal Justin Williams, M.S., ??Health Policy and the Election?Fireside Chat with Orriel Richardson, Head of Policy and Advocacy at JPMorganChase and Michael Caljouw VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts moderated by our Head of Partnerships Leah O'Donnell More pictures to come soon! Photo cred: Theresa Johnson Herlihy Ft: Harsh Vathsangam, PhD (Movn Health), Shanel Fields (MD Ally | 911 Network Navigation), Bruno Van Tuykom (Twentyeight Health), Helen Adeosun (CareAcademy), Lauren Morrell (Willow Health), Zainab Magdon-Ismail, Rajiv Shah (MyMeds), Nathalie Occean, MHA, CPHQ?(MedHaul), Adaeze Enekwechi (Cayaba Care), Princess U. (Health In Her HUE), Patrick Hines (Functional Fluidics)

DNPs of Color Keynote Uché Blackstock, MD discusses her journey, the Black health care crisis, and her book Legacy. Advancing Health Equity

A few words from our CEO and Founder, Dr. Uché Blackstock.

?Thrilled to be chosen by Fierce Pharma as one of their Fierce 50 of 2024 for the health equity work I’ve accomplished with my third “baby” - my strategic consulting firm Advancing Health Equity! ?Advancing Health Equity turned five years old this year and I could not have imagined all that we have accomplished in such a short period of time.? 1. Our Mission & Vision: We partner with organizations to eliminate bias and discrimination in healthcare, aiming to transform healthcare through equitable practices and improved health outcomes. 2. Strategic Goals: We equip healthcare organizations with the tools to address health inequities and drive cultural shifts, ensuring all minoritized members thrive and organizations continuously improve. 3. Unique Approach: Our tailored, solution-oriented services, grounded in equity and respect, foster authentic partnerships and create safe, supportive environments for sustainable impact. ????????STACK (Services we offer): ?Strategy: Collaborate on developing strategic roadmaps and work plans. ?Trainings: Facilitate sessions to convey key health equity concepts. ?Assessments + Audits: Evaluate client initiatives and progress. ?Consulting: Offer strategic counsel to advance health equity. ?Keynotes: Deliver inspiring presentations to cultivate health equity champions. Visit our website to learn about our work and to partner with us: https://lnkd.in/dHRkXBP For the full list of Fierce 50 2024 honorees: https://lnkd.in/gQKa7VFu

We are so proud that our founder and CEO Uché Blackstock, MD has been recognized by Fierce Pharma as one of their Fierce 50 of 2024 for her health equity work with Advancing Health Equity!!! Congratulations! Learn more about us and partner here: https://lnkd.in/dNFzBHr!

?? At the NACCHO Relationship Building Symposium, we had the opportunity to envision the future of equitable public health! ?? Glenda E. Young-Márquez , MPH led participants through an insightful exercise exploring what a new, equitable Public Health Department could look like. Advancing Health Equity's Senior Consultant, Chiagbanwe (ChiChi) Enwere, MPH shared her group's thoughts on the critical elements needed to drive this vision forward. She highlighted the importance of accessibility, culturally responsive data practices, wider opportunities for community engagement, and mobility for health departments. It's these actionable changes that will help us create a more inclusive and equitable public health landscape. ?? Grateful for the thought-provoking conversations and the opportunity to reimagine public health together! #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #NACCHO #AdvancingHealthEquity #EquityInAction #CommunityEngagement #DataPractices #CulturallyResponsive

?? What an exceptional experience at NACCHO's Relationship Building Symposium! ?? I had the privilege of joining on behalf of Advancing Health Equity, alongside an inspiring group of public health and health equity leaders. Together, we explored strategies to facilitate multi-sector relationships, integrate health equity, and engage in community leadership. ?? One of my favorite exercises was led by the Council on Black Health and Liminal Spaces, where we dove into discussions on Equity in Communications. Using the "Turn The Curve Thinking" model, we broke into small groups to reflect on our progress, identify root causes, and brainstorm strategies to drive meaningful change. It was an impactful session that challenged us to think critically about our approach to advancing health equity. Thank you to NACCHO and the Council on Black Health for fostering such a transformative environment! ?? #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #NACCHO #AdvancingHealthEquity #EquityInAction #RelationshipBuilding #CommunityLeadership #Collaboration