Community Advisory Board Happenings Amidst Ongoing Pandemic
On June 24, 2020, the Center for Health Equity’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) met for a virtual meeting over Zoom. At least for now, COVID-19 has put an end to the days of gathering in person over a delicious meal provided by the Center. Despite having to meet remotely, the CAB had a good meeting with many new developments reported on. The 2020 pandemic has highlighted health inequities like no event in recent memory, and the Board’s work has never seemed more urgent.
“I want everyone to realize that the work you’re doing is phenomenal. COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on people of color… I’m glad you’re helping people understand that people from our community need to be involved in the research and engaged.”
Sherry Perkins, Care Manager at Choptank Health System participating in Town Hall Panel Discussion
The June 24th meeting began with introductions from new CAB members. These were followed by longtime members providing a check-in on how well they’ve been coping with the pandemic, the racial unrest, and the uncertain political climate of the first six months of 2020. Reverend Debra Hickman provided updates from community partners and finally, CHE Director, Dr. Lisa Cooper and CHE Program Director, Nancy Molello, presented Center-wide updates on the Center’s work.
A major announcement included the news of Dr. Cooper’s appointment as Director of the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute (UHI) along with four new Associate Directors: Drs. Kelly Bower, Vanya Jones, Tanjala Purnell, and Rachel Thornton. The Urban Health Institute is Johns Hopkins’ effort to advance health and health equity in Baltimore. Using a wide range of programs, events, and educational and funding opportunities, the institute will foster partnerships, provide resources, and advance conversations about reducing health inequity. This kind of work is central to the Center for Health Equity’s mission. We are excited to have Dr. Cooper directing the Institute.
Larry Johnson, Provider at Park West participating in Town Hall Panel Discussion
Next, Dr. Cooper announced Reverend Hickman’s new position as Co-Chair of the UHI Community University Coordinated Council, and Nancy Molello’s position as UHI’s Program Director. Following these updates, the group heard about the many grants that the Center has been awarded to continue progress towards health equity.
Dr. Deidra Crews then provided the group with an update on the Five Plus Nuts and Beans study. Closing out the presentations, Dr. Anika Hines presented on the Photovoice Project, a spin-off project of the Five Plus study that examines community food choices using pictures to tell the story. In sharing more about this project, Dr. Hines shared quotes from people in the project. She finished her presentation with a request from the CAB for feedback and input. Before the group signed off the Zoom call, attendees had the opportunity to share reflections about the work, their communities, and the challenges of 2020 with the group. It was a time of true reflection and community support.
Later in the year, on September 9, 2020, the Center hosted part one of two virtual Town Hall Meetings for the RICH LIFE Project. This study explores the effectiveness of home-based care of high blood pressure. The Town Hall included breakout groups for attendees to discuss the early findings in smaller groups and also featured a panel discussion with RICH LIFE staff sharing their experiences with patients in the study. The CHE’s Associate Director for Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. Chidinma Ibe, led the panel discussion which included Park West Health System, Inc. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Johnson, Community Patient Advocate Ms. Willie McNair, Choptank Community Health System Care Manager and Registered Nurse Ms. Sherry Perkins, and Total Health Care Community Health Worker Ms. Helen Owhonda.
At the end of the year, on December 9, 2020, the Center hosted part two of the virtual Town Hall Meetings for the RICH LIFE Project. The Town Hall included smaller breakout groups for attendees to discuss unique perspectives about the Blood Pressure and System Level Leadership interventions. CHE’s faculty member Dr. Jill Marsteller also led a panel discussion which included Park West Health System, Inc. Chief of Adult Medicine Dr. Natalie Spicyn, Choptank Community Health System Chief Officer of Quality Improvement Susan Johnson, Total Health Care Clinical Educator Chara Bauer, and Johns Hopkins Community Physicians former Director of Nursing Practice and Clinical Education Tammie Hull. Attendees watched brief video messages from former RICH LIFE patients sharing their experiences and the meeting warmly ended with virtual holiday greetings from CAB members.
At our upcoming meeting, we plan to provide an COVID-19 update and opportunity for community members to ask about vaccine effectiveness along with any questions they may bring to the table. We hope that events of 2020 make it easier to progress towards increased health in Baltimore and beyond in 2021.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Learn more about the RICH LIFE Project
Learn more about Five Plus Nuts and Beans
To learn more about the Center’s Community Advisory Board, please view our online Community Corner or send a note to jhchecab@jhmi.edu