The WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s sixth-annual Health Justice and Belonging Conference set an attendance record for the second year in a row, drawing nearly 450 attendees from universities, health organizations, and local governments across the country.
The two-day virtual gathering brought together clinicians, educators, learners, and community members across Washington state and beyond to discuss evidence-based and culturally relevant solutions to health disparities. This year’s conference theme was The Path Forward, building on last year’s theme of The New Normal.
“The Path Forward is focused on moving beyond the status quo toward liberation and joy,” said David Garcia, associate dean for community, health equity, and belonging at the college. “We need to reimagine and recalibrate our systems, policies, and procedures to allow for all people to achieve optimal health and well-being.”
Featured speakers included Angela Jones, director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Washington State Initiative; Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. attorney for Eastern District of Washington; Zeke Smith, president of Empire Health Foundation; and more.
The conference also featured WSU College of Medicine faculty speaking on their efforts to promote health equity through education, research, and community care.
Recordings of plenary sessions will be available online at a later date.