9:00 – 9:20 AM

Welcome

Welcome remarks on behalf of the Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective, Pfizer Inc., and the Institute for Policy Solutions at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Speaker / Facilitator

• Emma Andrews, Co-Chair, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective
• Michael McDermott, Chief Global Supply and Quality Officer, Executive Vice President, Pfizer
• Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Solutions at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

9:20 – 10:00 AM

Fireside Chat with Dr. Georges Benjamin

As communities, health systems, and policymakers navigate a period of significant change and ongoing challenges, this inspirational conversation will explore how we can help build a future where everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health. Drawing on the findings of the National Academies' Unequal Treatment report and subsequent Ending Unequal Treatment report, Dr. Georges Benjamin, CEO of the American Public Health Association and co-chair of the committee that produced these reports, will discuss the progress made, the barriers that persist, and the growing role of community power in shaping more accountable, responsive health systems. The discussion will examine how research, policy, and cross-sector collaboration can catalyze meaningful action, advance trust and access to quality care, and help lay the foundation for the future of equitable health.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Ph.D., RN, Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
• Dr. Georges Benjamin, CEO, American Public Health Association

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Harnessing the Power of Communities to Shape the Future of Health Equity Policy

Health equity is at a crossroads. Growing inequities, strained public resources, and shifting policy priorities are testing progress across the country. Yet communities continue to advance real-world solutions that support improvements in community health. This session will explore how leaders across sectors are navigating today's challenges while positioning health equity as a foundation for future reform. Participants will examine strategies to identify practical approaches and community-informed strategies at the local, state, and federal levels and highlight proven solutions across health care delivery, workforce pathways, and research and data systems.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Clinician, Educator, Researcher and Life Sciences Leader

Panelists –

• Kenneth Romero, Executive Director, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
• Juliet K. Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer, APIAHF
• Dr. Michelle Taylor, DrPH, MPA, Commissioner of Health, Baltimore City Health Department

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Concurrent Strategy Labs

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Financing Health Equity: Protecting Access and Community Power in the Face of Funding Cuts

Nearly one third of US adults are struggling to pay bills, forcing difficult tradeoffs directly impacting their health decisions. Meanwhile, the financial foundations of healthcare are under increasing strain, creating new risks for access and affordability, particularly in underserved communities. As budget pressures mount, the need for more sustainable, equitable financing solutions has never been more urgent. Participants will examine the ongoing impact of health financing policies (Medicaid, ACA, 340B, NIH) and strategies for stabilizing and expanding access to care. Together, they will consider how local, state and tribal leaders are responding to fiscal challenges, short‑term funding gaps, competing priorities, while identifying long‑term policy and financing solutions needed to advance health equity.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Kenneth Romero, Executive Director, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators

Panelists –

• Heather Bagnall, Chair, House Health Committee, Maryland House of Delegates
• Kristen Bitsuie, Tribal Health Care Outreach and Education Policy Manager, National Indian Health Board
• Dr. Victor Wu, Chief Medical Officer, TN Division, TennCare
• Jasmine Akuffo, Former Lead Analyst, Health Equity and Social Justice, NACCHO

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Trusted Voices, Healthier Communities: Addressing Mistrust and Distrust

At a time of growing misinformation, polarization, and institutional skepticism, trust has emerged as one of the most important, and most challenged, drivers of health outcomes. Participants will examine the drivers of mistrust and distrust affecting their communities, unpack how information and lived experiences can shape perceptions, and explore strategies to elevate and support trusted local voices, particularly Community Health Workers (CHWs) as trusted messengers and as advocates.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Melissa Bishop-Murphy, Senior Director, National Government Relations and Multicultural Affairs, Pfizer and Co-Chair, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective

Panelists –

• Vacheria Keys, President & CEO, Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc.
• Sue Peschin, MHS, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research
• Tekisha Dwan Everette, Ph.D., MPA, MPH, CPH, Executive Vice President, Trust for America’s Health

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Using Community-Informed Data to Advance Policy in the age of AI

The growing influence of data analytics and AI in policymaking creates both an opportunity and an imperative to ensure community-generated insights remain visible, credible, and central to decision making. Participants will explore how emerging data and AI tools can responsibly strengthen the collection, analysis, and translation of community insights into policy-ready evidence while protecting equity, transparency, and community trust.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Shonta Chambers, MSW, Chief Equity and Community Engagement Officer, Patient Advocate Foundation

Panelists –

• Ashani Johnson-Turbes, Ph.D., Vice President, NORC at the University of Chicago
• Munira Bangee, Vice President, Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity, National Minority Quality Forum
• Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., M.D., U.S. Representative, 3rd Congressional District, New Jersey

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Strategy Lab Readout

Summary and key takeaways from strategy labs.

Speaker / Facilitator

• Kenneth Romero, Executive Director, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
• Melissa Bishop-Murphy, Senior Director, National Government Relations and Multicultural Affairs, Pfizer and Co-Chair, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective
• Shonta Chambers, Chief Equity and Community Engagement Officer, Patient Advocate Foundation

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

From Innovation to Impact: How Communities Can Shape Equitable AI in Healthcare

As AI moves from research into everyday healthcare, communities are entering a new era where decisions about diagnosis and care are increasingly shaped by algorithms. AI will either become one of the most powerful tools to close longstanding health gaps, or one of the most efficient systems to deepen them. Which path it takes will depend on how intentionally it is designed, implemented and governed. AI has the potential to expand access, support earlier detection and improve patient outcomes when appropriately designed and implemented. Community-based organizations, as trusted advocates and connectors, are uniquely positioned to shape how AI is introduced and used. This session will explore how AI is already affecting communities, where risks of bias emerge and how to harness these tools to help advance equitable care.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Emma Andrews, Vice President, Policy, Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy, Pfizer and Co-Chair, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective

Panelists –

• Dr. Eric Griggs, Community Medicine Physician, Health Educator & AI Health Innovation Strategist
• Dr. Helen Burstin, MPH, MACP, CEO, Council of Medical Specialty Societies
• Roy Austin, Director, Artificial Intelligence Initiative, Howard University School of Law
• Dr. Ronald M. Wyatt, MHA, Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Healthcare Improvement

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Concurrent Strategy Labs

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

From Innovation to Impact: How Communities Can Shape Equitable AI in Healthcare

Community-based organizations are essential, trusted voices in the communities they serve, yet few CBOs feel their policymakers trust their input and expertise. This session will focus on closing that gap—bringing together state legislators, CBOs and advocates—showcasing success stories, elevating the power of community-informed policymaking, and exploring what gaps remain. Participants will elevate practical strategies for engaging in constructive dialogue, identifying when and how to connect, building relationships and sharing community-informed perspectives.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Samantha Artiga, Senior Vice President and Director, Racial Equity and Health Policy Program, Kaiser Family Foundation

Panelists –

• Senator Gustavo Rivera, New York State Senate, District 33
• Darrell Gaskin, Ph.D., William C. and Nancy F. Richardson Professor of Health Policy and Director, Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Dr. Giridhar Mallya, MSHP, Senior Policy Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Rodrigo Stein, MPH, MSc, Director, Health Equity and Strategic Community Partnerships, La Clinica del Pueblo

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Sustaining the Frontlines: Supporting the Health Workforce

Community health centers and frontline providers are navigating growing pressures that threaten access to care and the sustainability of the workforce. Funding constraints and shifting policy environments are particularly challenging rural and underserved communities where providers are managing not only workforce shortages and burnout, but also rising distrust, evolving immigration enforcement dynamics, and funding cuts. These pressures are accelerating workforce strain, deepening service gaps and increasing the risk of health center closures, putting continuity of care at risk for the communities who rely on them most. This session will explore the frontline impact and how these forces are reshaping care delivery at the local level. Participants will explore how to protect and sustain the healthcare workforce in this environment and identify practical, community-centered approaches to strengthen workforce resilience, maintain access to care and support the long-term sustainability of community health systems.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Sheldon Fields, Ph.D., RN, President, National Black Nurses Association

Panelists –

• Pedro Martinez, MPH, Director of Health, UnidosUS
• Anabell Castro Thompson, MSN, APRN, Senior Vice President, Suvida Healthcare
• Debbie White, RN, President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Navigating AI: Protecting Equity in Healthcare

As Artificial Intelligence moves from the research lab to the bedside, its impact on health equity depends not only on the technology alone but the data, decisions, and safeguards that guide it. Today a clear governance gap is emerging. Participants will examine how underlying data influences real-world outcomes—from pulse oximetry inaccuracies to clinical trial recruitment—and discuss the legislative guardrails needed to ensure AI becomes a tool for inclusion. The discussion will include a focus on eliminating bias, ensuring relevance across diverse populations and preventing widening the digital divide.

Speaker / Facilitator

Moderator –

• Dr. Lydia Isaac, Vice President, Health Equity and Policy, National Urban League

Panelists –

• KiTani Lemieux, Ph.D., Professor, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana
• Dr. John Sampson, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Michael Cary, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Nicol Turner Lee, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Center for Technology Innovation, The Brookings Institution

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Strategy Lab Readout

Summary and key takeaways from strategy labs.

Speaker / Facilitator

• Samantha Artiga, Senior Vice President, Director for Racial Equity and Health Policy Program, Kaiser Family Foundation
• Sheldon Fields, Ph.D., RN, President, National Black Nurses Association
• Dr. Lydia Isaac, Vice President, Health Equity and Policy, National Urban League

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Closing

Summit reflections and next steps.

Speaker / Facilitator

• Melissa Bishop-Murphy, Senior Director, National Government Relations and Multicultural Affairs, Pfizer and Co-Chair, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective