Nearly 300 health leaders, clinicians and others gathered in Decatur for the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement’s (ARCHI) second annual State of Metro Atlanta Health (SMAH) conference.
Held at the Decatur Conference Center, the event focused on how issues like food insecurity, housing instability and shrinking public health resources are impacting metro Atlanta residents, following a year in which major cuts were made to public health funding and infrastructure, said ARCHI.
“After a year like this, it’s clear that no single institution can carry the weight alone,” said Jeff Smythe, executive director of ARCHI. “If we move together — as systems, institutions and neighbors — better health for every community in metro Atlanta is possible. This is not a time to back down.”
Speakers at the conference echoed ARCHI’s calls for deeper collaboration across health systems, with Emory Healthcare CEO Dr. Joon S. Lee stressing the importance of sharing resources; John Haupert, chief executive officer of Grady Health System, emphasizing the need to connect residents to critical services; and Mark Crossen (complex care coordinator with Northside Hospital) urging healthcare organizations to stay focused on their core purpose: serving patients and communities.
Serving as the keynote speaker of the event was Renée Branch Canady, chief executive officer of the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), who encouraged attendees to embrace difference as a strategic strength in navigating converging crises.
“We can’t be fearful of difference; we have to see it as an opportunity,” said Branch Canady.
Other highlights of the conference include a panel with Georgia State Representative Saira Draper regarding health policies; a conversation about utilizing innovation to disrupt food insecurity; a discussion revolving around advocacy efforts; as well as a panel detailing the progress of a new $9 million initiative that merges housing with onsite medical care for unhoused individuals.
Founded in 2011, the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement serves as a “coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations committed to improving the region’s health through collective impact,” according to the Atlanta Regional Commission website.
The post State of Metro Atlanta Health conference calls for unified action amidst changes to health funding appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.
Leave a Reply