Press Releases
A Focus on Minority Health Forward
City of Mesquite Hosts Minority Health Forum Featuring Expert Insights from Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity and the University of Texas
A Focus on Minority Health Forward and Onward from the Impacts of the Pandemic
Dr. Jaime A. Davidson
Dr. Laura Lee Hall
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 6, 2021) —The City of Mesquite will host its virtual Community Health Forum Series on April 8 at 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET with a focus on minority health issues as a part of National Minority Health Month and the City’s effort to help the community move forward and onward from the impacts of the pandemic.
Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., President of National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality
and Equity, and Dr. Jaime A. Davidson, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine, Diabetes Touchstone Center, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, will be the feature panelists for the event.
To join the conversation, join the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88903991925 or by phone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location) US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 436 2866. The webinar ID: 889 0399 1925.
For more information about the City of Mesquite’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, please visit https://www.cityofmesquite.com/3471/Community-Health-Forums.
Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity Partners with CDC to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Trust in African American Communities
24 February 2021 | Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, D.C.—National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care and Equity (NMQF/SHC) has been awarded a five-year grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase COVID-19 vaccine understanding and acceptance among African American communities.
This program will examine, update and develop new materials that are culturally relevant to the African American community. These materials include tools for medical practitioners in African American communities to share with and educate patients; information for community leaders to share with their African American constituencies; messaging and graphics for advocates to use to communicate through social media.
Communications training will also be available to community leaders on how to best educate African American patients and the public.
Dr. Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., President of Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity said she is honored to have funding from CDC to assist African Americans, and the clinicians who serve them, to achieve better health.
“African Americans have suffered vaccine disparities, COVID-19 infection and death, and other vaccine-preventable diseases–through less knowledge, access, social and economic barriers, and discrimination and bias in the health system. We will seek to empower the African American community to understand and promote their own health through vaccination.”
If you would like to join this effort or learn more, contact Naomi Oledibe, PMP, Public Health Junior Program Coordinator for NMQF/SHC, at shc@nmqf.org.
Media Contact
Kelly Ann Collins
media@nmqf-pr.org
(202) 413-1187
About Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world. Learn more at www.cdc.gov.
About National Minority Quality Forum
The National Minority Quality Forum assists health care providers, professionals, administrators, researchers, policymakers, and community and faith-based organizations in delivering appropriate health care to minority communities. This assistance is based on providing the evidence in the form of science, research, and analysis that will lead to the effective organization and management of system resources to improve the quality and safety of health care for the entire population of the U.S., including minorities. For more information, please visit www.nmqf.org.
Recognized as Top Corporate Social Responsibility Project
Global Business Alliance recognizes DRIVE collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur for its impact in increasing immunizations in underserved areas
Photo by Urban Health Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 23, 2021) —Today, the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SCH) announced that its DRIVE initiative, made possible by a grant from Sanofi Pasteur, has been recognized as one of the top five Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of 2020 by Global Business Alliance.
Annually, Global Business Alliance (GBA) showcases significant contributions that international companies are making in U.S. communities.
DRIVE launched in partnership with NMQF, SHC and Sanofi to address the growing racial and ethnic disparities in flu vaccination rates. In the 2019-20 flu season, the efforts achieved between 20 and 40% increase in vaccination rates, expanding to seven additional sites in the last year as well as inclusion of community organizations.
“We are thrilled to be recognized for this work,” says Dr. Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., SHC president. “The work that Sanofi and DRIVE are doing to increase flu vaccination rates is critical to underserved communities, especially in the face of COVID-19.”
GBA’s CSR Award recognizes community support by international companies that create initiatives impacting climate, health, and sustainability. The DRIVE initiative directly affects the health and welfare of older and medically vulnerable adults in underserved communities where only 30% received a flu shot in recent years.
“The goal is never to win an award,” continued Dr. Hall. “We are driven by our passion for serving the massive need within Black and Hispanic communities. The GBA helps us by getting the word out and bringing more people onboard to support this cause.”Dr. Gary A. Puckrein, Ph.D., president and CEO of NMQF, believes the best way to obtain predictable positive outcomes for patients during COVID-19 is through support of local care networks.
“For decades we have known that throughout our nation’s history, people of color have experienced reduced access to health care, higher rates of chronic conditions and, ultimately, higher rates of mortality across a range of health conditions,” he said. “Now, during the pandemic, we have an urgent need to provide our underserved communities with accessible, equitable health care, including flu vaccines.”
For more information about DRIVE and the “Call for Community-Driven Equity in Flu Vaccination,” please visit SHC https://nmqf-shc.org/flu-vaccination.
Media Contact
Kelly Ann Collins
media@nmqf-pr.com
(202) 413-1187
About National Minority Quality Forum
The National Minority Quality Forum assists health care providers, professionals, administrators, researchers, policymakers, and community and faith-based organizations in delivering appropriate health care to minority communities. This assistance is based on providing evidence in the form of science, research, and analysis that will lead to the effective organization and management of system resources to improve the quality and safety of health care for the entire population of the U.S., including minorities. www.nmqf.org.
About Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity
The Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity promotes sustainable healthy communities, especially those with diverse and underserved populations, through the provision of actionable data, research, and engagement of clinicians and community leaders. For more information, please visit www.nmqf-shc.org.
Evidence-based Public Health Interventions
Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity Names Kristen Stevens Hobbs Senior Project Manager
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 8, 2021)—Today, National Minority Quality Forum’s (NMQF’s) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) announced that Kristen Stevens Hobbs, MPH, has joined as its Senior Project Manager for Quality Improvement and Equity.
In her role, Hobbs will champion the advancement of health equity and will implement epidemiologic principles for the design, implementation, and management of evidence-based public health interventions.
Dr. Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., President of Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity said she is thrilled to have Hobbs on her team.
“Kristen is a world-class public health expert and epidemiologist who brings a passion not only for data but for translating that data into health equity through quality improvement, education, and public health programming.”
Hobbs is a senior-level public health professional with experience in epidemiology, partnership development and public health program evaluation, development and execution. Prior to joining NMQF/SHC, she worked as Senior Manager of the African American Health Equity Initiative at Susan G. Komen Headquarters.
Hobbs said she is elated to join the organizaton.
“The team does excellent work, and I am honored to bring the convergence of my experiences and expertise to advance the NMQF/SHC mission and vision.”
Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Texas Woman’s University and her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Saint Louis University.
Media Contact
Kelly Ann Collins
media@nmqf-pr.org
(202) 413-1187
About National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity
The National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity provides clinical teams and community leaders education, training and support in: (1) Identifying gaps in health care and outcomes for all disease conditions, and (2) Implementing evidence-based quality improvement education and community- and patient-engagement. SHC focuses on primary care in underserved and vulnerable communities, including people of color, rural populations, older adults, children, people with disabilities, and people with limited financial means, health literacy, and other social risks, identified through NMQF’s state-of-the-art health geographic information system. Applying the rapid cycle improvement and collective impact model, SHC promotes patient-centered, team-based care that respects the clinicians, patients, and caregivers in achieving high quality and equitable health outcomes.
Leadership Insights on Flu Vaccine Disparities
SHC, NMQF Leadership Insights on Flu Vaccine Disparities Featured in Modern Healthcare
Dr. Laura Lee Hall and Dr. Gary A. Puckrein
Washington D.C. (December 12, 2020) — Insights on the importance of influenza vaccines for communities of color by Dr. Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., President of the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity, and Dr. Gary A. Puckrein Ph.D., President of the National Minority Quality Forum, were published in Modern Healthcare.
The article, “Breaking Bias: Increased Flu Vaccine Has Never Been More Important for Communities of Color,“ states “Blacks and Hispanics were 30% less likely to get any flu vaccine, even adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. Unsurprisingly, Blacks, Native Americans and Hispanics experienced the highest rates of flu-associated hospitalization over the last 10 years. It is important to get a flu shot to promote health equity.”
To read more, access the article at Modern Healthcare.
To learn more about SHC and its effort to promote equitable health care, including vaccination, contact shc@nmqf.org.
PRESS RELEASES
A Focus on Minority Health Forward
Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity Partners with CDC to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Trust in African American Communities
Recognized as Top Corporate Social Responsibility Project
Evidence-based Public Health Interventions
Leadership Insights on Flu Vaccine Disparities
