SEPA to host Health Equity Summit

SEPA Mujer Inc., a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of immigrant women and young girls, in partnership, and through sponsorship, by the Long Island Network for Clinical and Translational Science, and Northwell Health with the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, will host a Health Equity Summit, on April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Stony Brook University’s Charles B. Wang Center.

“Health care spaces have an important and impactful role on the livelihoods of our communities overall. Better understanding of diverse cultures, and the right approaches, will build a bridge towards not only health prevention, but also community healing,” said Martha Maffei, SEPA Mujer’s executive director.

The “Culture of Equity: Aligning forces to shape culture in health” summit will bring together health care experts, professionals, and organizations with the focus of prioritizing the needs of our communities through a culturally competent lens. “The Long Island Network for Clinical and Translational Science (LINCATS) at Stony Brook University is proud to sponsor Sepa Mujer’s Health Equity Summit. The Summit represents a unique opportunity to engage in conversation about interdisciplinary approaches and solutions to equity-focused research, with the goals of addressing the social determinants of health and disparities across a range of issues, including housing instability, immigration policies, adolescent mental health, cancer, and racial and ethnic bias in health care that impact underserved communities on Long Island,” said George S Leibowitz, Ph.D., LICSW LINCATS community and stakeholder engagement research lead.

Various organizations and institutions across New York state will align forces at this one-day event to raise awareness about health equity and health disparities, understand various cultural considerations in healthcare surrounding BIPOC, immigrant, and/or indigenous communities, identify paths to improve community health, and create systems change, connect communities with partners who are interested in reducing health disparities, or working health equity, as well as provide meaningful networking opportunities to foster new partnerships and new ideas for research, practice, prevention, and policy.

“The COVID pandemic not only highlighted the needs, but also taught us that the most successful efforts to create meaningful and lasting change within our communities begins with strong partnerships that value diversity and ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our society are heard and respected. Northwell Health stands as a proud supporter, participant, and health care sponsor of the April 28 SEPA Mujer Inc. Health Equity Summit, along with our partner organizations. In highlighting these important conversations and topics, we will ensure that our collaboration continues to unlock opportunities to foster sustainable pathways toward health equity in our communities,” said Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez, vice president, Northwell Health.

Join the Health Equity Summit for a special message from the CDC Foundation’s chief of health equity and strategy officer, Dr. Lauren A. Smith, and hear keynote speeches from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ regional director Dr. Dara Kass, and NYU Langone’s Department of Population Health associate professor Dr. Stella S. Yi.

Tickets will include breakfast and lunch, access to 12 workshop options, with expert speakers, garage parking, and five CEU credits, for licensed social workers provided by Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare. Discounted packages are available for nonprofit and medical teams. Don’t miss out on this conversation and purchase your tickets through SEPA Mujer’s website at: sepamujer.org/healthequitysummit.html The School of Social Welfare is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for NYS licensed social workers (#SW-0050). Reach out directly to Merly Fuentes, organizer of the Health Equity Summit, at mfuentes@sepamujer.org for more information. For general information visit sepamujer.org.