HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that it will hold a statewide Health Equity Summit with partner Harrisburg University from April 4-5 in Harrisburg and online. The theme of the summit is “Joy and Justice.”
“Health equity is at the heart of the work of the Department of Health, so I am excited about this upcoming summit. It is an opportunity for collaboration of equity champions, sharing of resources, and bringing words into action,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Addressing social determinants of health to improve health equity in Pennsylvania is a primary focus area of our five-year State Health Improvement Plan. Consistent with the theme for this year’s summit, we envision a Commonwealth where everyone has the opportunity to live a joyful life with justice for all.”
The 2024 Health Equity Summit will unite stakeholders from academia, health care professionals, state agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, faith-based organizations and more working toward the goal of eliminating health disparities in Pennsylvania by 2030. The two-day event will foster solutions that raise awareness about health equity and address differences in health outcomes across communities. The goal of the summit is to promote collaborative engagement amongst various professionals to ensure Pennsylvanians can live their healthiest and best lives. The discussions and solutions proposed can be extended beyond the summit to improve the health of people who need special consideration to mitigate health risks.
Panel discussions with subject experts will touch on such topics as maternal health, environmental justice and climate change, and health equity policy. Keynote speaker Anthony Iton M.D., J.D., MPH, Senior Vice President for Programs & Partnerships of The California Endowment, will present on April 5.
Registration is open through March 22. Participants can attend in-person or virtually. The half-day event on April 4 will be hosted by Harrisburg University at the UPMC Health Tower at Harrisburg University located at 222 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, PA, from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, followed by special film screenings. The full-day event on April 5 will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health at the Harrisburg University main campus building located at 326 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
