Oct 08 2024 53 mins
What if health was a guaranteed right, accessible to everyone regardless of race or background? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Brandon Wilson from Community Catalyst as we unpack the concept of health equity. Dr. Wilson's journey from Louisiana's Cancer Alley to being a leading advocate for equitable vaccine access is nothing short of inspiring. His personal experiences, including his HIV diagnosis at 17, have fueled his unwavering commitment to public health. Together, we imagine a healthcare system where equity and justice are not mere ideals, but everyday realities.
Dr. Wilson shares why authentic community engagement requires humility and trust and how traditional power structures must evolve to recognize the spaces where real community discussions happen. Dr. Wilson highlights the power of lived experiences and the necessity of multidirectional learning in fostering true community partnerships. His insights are a roadmap for anyone looking to bridge the healthcare gap for marginalized communities.
We also tackle pressing issues such as the decline in public trust within the healthcare system and the essential role of caregivers, especially those in home and community-based services (HCBS). From innovative delivery models to the impact of the pandemic on public health initiatives, this episode outlines strategies for promoting equity and access. We discuss how states can build on existing foundations to improve HCBS and explore how community organizations can be better resourced to sustain their vital work.
Dr. Brandon Wilson
Dr. Brandon G. Wilson, DrPH, MHA, is a transformative leader in health innovation, public health, and equity. Dr. Wilson serves as the Co-Interim President & CEO, alongside Dana Clarke. Dr. Wilson oversees the organization’s health system innovation and community-first public health work and leads the Center for Community Engagement in Health Innovation. This center conducts community-based research to understand how inequities in the U.S. health system drive poor health outcomes for historically excluded communities and drives practice and policy change strategies based on its findings. As a recognized public health advisor, he has made significant contributions to health equity and innovation.
He received a master’s degree in health systems management at George Mason University, and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at Morgan State University. He holds a faculty appointment at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health.
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Music by Zach Price: [email protected]