2024 HPM Healthcare Conference Agenda
Friday, April 12, 2023
9:00am-5:00pm
The Forum @ Columbia University
Agenda
8:15-9:00am – Check In and Coffee
9:00-9:15am – Welcome
9:15-10:15am – Keynote Address
10:15-10:30am - Coffee Break
10:30-11:30am – Morning Panel
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch
1:15-2:15pm – Afternoon Sessions (Select One: Panel, Roundtable Discussion or Fireside Chat)
2:15-2:30pm - Break
2:30 -3:30pm - Afternoon Panel
3:30-5:00pm – Networking Reception
The Keynote Address: In 2023, the Governor of New York took a significant step forward by establishing a gubernatorial advisory body aimed at ensuring high-quality, equitable healthcare access for all New Yorkers. Introducing: The Commission on the Future of Health Care. Under the leadership of Dr. Sherry Glied as its Chair, this commission brings together 13 prominent practitioners and policy makers to offer annual strategic guidance to the Governor on areas such as policy, regulation, and transformative strategies within the healthcare system. Considering evolving patient preferences, new technologies, and innovative financing, Dr. Glied will deliver forward-looking insights on the Commission and predictions for health care in New York (and beyond).
Keynote: Dr. Sherry Glied, Dean of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
The Morning Panel, In the panel discussion moderated by Rob Shepardson, with contributions from Kevin Munoz, Brian Reich, and Dr. Julie Herbstman, the primary focus was on the multifaceted challenges of communicating health policies and scientific data to the public. Brian Reich detailed his role in distilling complex scientific information into accessible language amidst a highly scrutinized and politically charged media landscape. He stressed the importance of making communication personal and comprehensible to foster public understanding. Dr. Julie Herbstman shared insights from her work at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, emphasizing the need to extend the impact of scientific research through strategic partnerships with the media. This approach helps bridge the gap between academic findings and public discourse, ensuring research influences health outcomes more broadly. Kevin Munoz, reflecting on his tenure in the White House, discussed the strategic use of diverse media platforms, including social media, to reach varied audiences effectively during the COVID crisis. He highlighted the critical role of adapting messages to fit the cultural and contextual nuances of different communities to ensure clarity and engagement. Together, the panelists underscored the essential blend of clear communication, strategic media use, and credible messengers in effectively addressing public health challenges.ics to diverse audiences with clarity and impact, and providing valuable strategies for effective messaging in public health.
Moderated by Rob Shepardson, Founding Partner at SS+K, Adjunct Professor, Health Policy and Management
Panelists:
Kevin Munoz, Assistant Press Secretary, The White House
Brian Reich, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Planning and Director of Speechwriting at US Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Julie Herbstman, Professor at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Director of Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
The Lunch Salon, Business Perspectives in Digital Health, explored the journey of One Medical and comprehensively examined one of the most significant mergers in healthcare and its impact on healthcare delivery. The discussion focused on how these innovations and shifts in healthcare delivery can address social determinants of health and health inequities, particularly in reaching underserved communities. Other topics included personal lessons, ethical friction points, navigating health literacy, and the transformations that accompany mergers and acquisitions.
Hosted by Andrea Marx , Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon Health Services and Columbia Executive MPH/MHA Student
The Afternoon Fireside Chat, Exploring Food Access, Justice, Policy, and Equity, delved into the critical issues of food justice, nutrition insecurity, and their implications for public health and how NourishedRx aims to address the prevalence of unhealthy diets and the lack of awareness about healthy food options by providing access to nutritious food and tailored nutrition interventions. The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing food insecurity and nutrition-related health disparities and how NourishedRx has played a role in this endeavor. NourishedRx, a digital health & nutrition platform, embodies its core values of empathy and respect, simplification, pursuit of results, and fostering collaboration and community. Their range of services include access to healthy food and meals, nutritional education, and meal preparation support. Their primary goals are to assist payers in reducing medical costs and improve the health outcomes of its members, all while simplifying healthy eating. They are a for-profit company that partners with payers and healthcare providers to identify and refer eligible members to the program. They provide members with services such as nutritional education, meal preparation support, and outcome measurement through assessments and screenings. They operate nationwide and collaborate with over 30 healthy food partners to ensure access to fresh, culturally relevant food. Their members enjoy access to educational videos in various languages, supplemented by interpreter services as part of their omnichannel approach. The most impactful approach to promoting health equity is by directly addressing food insecurity, and that is what NourishedRx aims to achieve.
Moderated by Heather Butts, Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Management
Featuring Lauren Driscoll, Founder and CEO of NourishedRx
The Afternoon Roundtable Discussion, led by the seasoned Dr. Susan Michaels-Strasser, delved into the foundations and impact of PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the current challenges it faces. Initiated in the Bush administration, PEPFAR has enjoyed bipartisan support which has largely sponsored its longevity. In the last 20 years, PEPFAR has disseminated $100 billion, and saved over 25 million lives, including infants who would’ve been born with HIV. Dr Michaels-Strasser recounted her experiences at ICAP, witnessing the program’s evolution to include efforts beyond HIV treatments, such as health system strengthening and improving global health security, all through the support of PEPFAR. Despite its impact, the future of PEPFAR is uncertain as political debates surrounding US foreign aid begin to reflect the current domestic climate on abortion. Divisive politics cast aspersions on PEPFAR’s activities in the areas of family planning and sexual & reproductive health, despite having always been guided by the legislature detailed in the Helms Amendment and the Mexico City Policy, causing reauthorization to stall. Participants in the roundtable stressed the humanitarian imperative, arguing that withholding funds would exacerbate disease burdens beyond HIV, including TB, maternal and infant mortality, erode the trust built in partnered LMICs over decades, and tarnish good of the US that PEPFAR symbolizes. In conclusion, the discussion underscored the need for continued funding and a focus on human life over political ideologies.
Moderated by Dr. Susan Michaels-Strasser, Senior Director of Human Resources for Health, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, ICAP at Columbia University
The Afternoon Panel, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Addressing Whole Health, features perspectives from payers, venture capital investors, and startup founders, discussing how holistic health practices are disrupting the care economy and healthcare. The panel explores the speakers' roles in creating a positive impact and promoting multidimensional health through science-backed Eastern and Western approaches to prioritize physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Learn more about the rise of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the challenges associated with societal perceptions, as it integrates into the healthcare system and emerges as a popular solution for preventative health practices.
Moderatedby Dr. David Rosenthal, Faculty Director of Management Programs, Health Policy and Management
Panelists:
Carol Huffman,VP of Strategic Partnerships, EmblemHealth
Amanda Eilian, Co-Founder and Partner, _able Partners
Lulu Ge, Founder and CEO, Elix
The Closing Panel, Promoting Health Equity and Accessibility in the AI Space, explored the transformative role of AI in healthcare. The discussion began with a historical perspective on AI’s integration into healthcare, highlighting its evolution from traditional algorithms to more complex systems like ChatGPT, which has highlighted the critical role of big data in healthcare reform. The panelists discussed the various ways AI can democratize access to healthcare, enhance the accuracy of diagnostics, and standardize treatments to reduce inherent biases. They emphasized the necessity of utilizing AI in a manner that is safe, effective, and free from biases, with a focus on real-world impacts on patient outcomes. Concerns about existing biases in healthcare data were raised, with discussions on how these biases could be perpetuated by AI unless carefully mitigated through rigorous data review and ethical AI development practices. The application of AI in improving clinical decision-making was highlighted, suggesting that AI-enhanced systems could lead to better, faster and more equitable health outcomes. Regulatory frameworks, transparency, and stakeholder engagement were discussed as crucial for building trust and ensuring that AI innovations benefit all segments of society— particularly underserved communities.
Moderated by Dr. Jeff Goldsmith, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Associate Dean, Columbia University Data Science Institute
Panelists:
Dr. Julia Iyasere, Executive Director, Dalio Center for Health Justice at NewYork-Presbyterian
Dr. Ashley Beecy, Medical Director, AI Operations at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Dr. Rebecca Winokur, Physician Strategist, Health Equity Leader, and Ethical AI Subject Matter Expert