In a landmark event that promised to reshape the landscape of health equity research, TRANSPORT (Translational Program Of Health Disparities Research Training), an NIH endowed program, presented the "Advancing Health Equity Research: Building Partnerships between Academic, Community, and Government" symposium recently convened experts and stakeholders from diverse sectors to address the critical challenges and opportunities in forging effective collaborations.

The event featured keynote speaker, Michelle Morse, MD, MPH, Deputy Commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness (CHECW) and inaugural Chief Medical Officer at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH). Dr. Morse’s presentation was entitled: Was the Pandemic a Portal Towards Health Justice? Progress and Backlash in Our Current Moment. Also included in the symposium were three pivotal panels: Academic-Government Partnerships, Academic-Community Partnerships, and Academic-Academic Partnerships, moderated by Daniel Ehlke, PhD, MA, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Downstate Health Sciences University, Allen Lewis, PhD, CRC, Dean and Professor, School of Health Professions, Downstate Health Sciences University, and Ernest Barthelemy, MD, MPH, MA, Chief of Division of Neurosurgery, Downstate Health Sciences University.

Panelists include;
Azure Thompson, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Downstate Health Sciences University

Alishia Goodridge, MLS, MBA, Assistant Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Downstate Health Sciences University

Rev. Kim Council, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President

Louise Square, Health Equity Coordinator, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute