Two Worcester health leaders join fellow experts, policymakers and advocates in Boston on Tuesday for a statewide summit focused on health care access, equity and the potential impact of federal policy changes on vulnerable populations.
Dr. Olga Valdman of Worcester RISE for Health and Amie Shei, president and CEO of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, are scheduled to participate in the Health Equity Compact’s fourth annual Health Equity Trends Summit at UMass Boston.
Valdman brings decades of experience working with Worcester’s refugee and immigrant communities to the discussion. She is founder and executive director of Worcester RISE for Health and an assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School. She previously helped build refugee health programs at Family Health Center of Worcester and currently leads the Worcester Refugee Health Collaborative, a coalition that includes refugee resettlement agencies and community health providers across the city. In 2022, she launched Worcester RISE for Health with a focus on delivering community-based care tailored to refugee and immigrant populations.
Organizers say the event comes at a time when proposed federal policy changes could significantly affect access to health care for marginalized communities across Massachusetts. The summit brings together health care providers, nonprofit leaders, elected officials and state policymakers to discuss strategies for advancing health equity and protecting access to care.
According to the announcement, topics include immigrant health care access, primary care reform and the community health workforce.
Valdman participates in a panel discussion on protecting health care access for immigrants from 10:15-11:30 a.m. The summit’s stated goal is to help participants align on policy priorities and advocacy efforts, identify solutions and develop strategies to address disparities in health care access.
The event will also feature remarks from Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano, along with participation from state Sen. Cindy Friedman, state Rep. John Lawn, Health and Human Services Undersecretary Amy Rosenthal and a range of health care and community leaders from across the state.
The Health Equity Compact describes itself as a coalition focused on advancing racial and health equity in Massachusetts through policy advocacy and community engagement.
The summit is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the UMass Boston Campus Center Ballroom. A livestream will also be available for those who wish to attend virtually.
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