The University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the University of Vermont Health Network presented the 2023 Health Equity Summit: "Closing the Margin: Avenues to Health Equity" on October 29 and 30. 

The summit included keynote presentations by Edwin Lindo, associate teaching professor and the Assistant Dean for Social and Health Justice at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who specializes in examining the impact of race and racism in medicine and law, and Monica Vela, professor of medicine and the Director of the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Clinical assistant professor Adrianne Johnson Ross represented CNHS on the summit planning committee, which included panel discussions led by experts and thought leaders in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Clinical nursing professor Miller Celestin presented an overview of the new "Mentorship for BIPOC Health Professions Students: A Look at the Finding Affinity and Mentorship Program" pilot with Anisha Rimal, a pediatrician and assistant professor at the Larner College of Medicine. Professor and nursing researcher Laura Lewis discussed "Caring for Autistic Patients: Understanding the Management of Complex Health Needs that Underlie Health Inequity" with physician Melissa Houser of All Brains Belong VT and community healthcare professionals. A panel titled "Addressing the Health Disparities of People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities in Vermont with Plain Language," moderated by Cara Feldman-Hunt, associate director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health, featured Kirsten Isgro, health communications instructor with the Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences and project coordinator for the Inclusive Healthcare Partnership Project.

Open to physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, medical residents, students, researchers, healthcare leaders, policymakers, faculty, non-profit organizations, community members, and advocates committed to health equity, the event aims to broaden access to quality healthcare for underserved populations.

Learn more on the Health Equity Summit website.