- This event has passed.
Equity in Action: Advancing Care Through Community Partnerships
Equity in Action: Advancing Care Through Community Partnerships
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm (EST)
Location: Virtual Event
Event Schedule:
5:30 – 5:40 – Welcome, Thanks, & Speaker Introductions
5:40 – 6:05 – Panel Case presentations
6:20 – 6:45 – Guided Discussion with Panel and Audience Q&A
6:55 – 7:00 – Closing Statements
Quality of care should not vary based on the patients’ socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, gender, or geographic background. However, a persistent healthcare divide exists in the U.S., particularly among vulnerable populations such as those lacking adequate health insurance, low-income families, racial and ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ populations.
Equity of care is a foundational principle of healthcare management and an ethical and business imperative. To address systemic disparities, healthcare organizations must educate their workforce to meet the unique needs of patients from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. This includes ensuring that services are accessible in non-traditional care settings, such as mobile health clinics and school-based clinics, which play a crucial role in reaching underserved populations where they live, learn, and work. These models reduce access barriers, improve early detection and chronic disease management, and support preventative care efforts in high-risk communities.
Community partnerships are also central to advancing health equity. Collaborating with local organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and public health departments enables health systems to co-create culturally responsive care strategies, extend their reach, and foster trust in historically marginalized communities. These partnerships enhance care coordination and patient engagement and help align services with the social determinants of health.
Studies show that patient-centered care models—particularly those embedded in community contexts—improve clinical outcomes, reduce medical errors, and lower healthcare costs. Eliminating healthcare disparities through these integrated approaches supports organizational excellence and long-term financial sustainability, while fulfilling the broader mission of equitable care for all.
*Students, please enter promo code FREEHEN when registering to receive a complimentary ticket to this event!*
Moderator
Dr. Chiquita Berg – Vice President – Community Health and Well-Being, Trinity Health Michigan, IHA Westland OBGYN Physician
Panelist
Brian Galdes – Suicide Prevention Coordinator – Hope Empowerment Coalition
Panelist
Laurie Gustafson – Director of Community Health – Trinity Health
Panelist
Leslie Meyer – Senior Director of Healthier Communities East Region – Corewell Health
Registration for this event is a 2-step process. (You will not receive VIRTUAL credits unless you complete both steps.)
1. You must register and pay on the MCACHE platform.
2. You must register on the ACHE platform to have access to the Zoom login credentials and receive your credits. There is no additional cost associated with this step. If you are NOT an ACHE member you will create an account on ACHE.org account, but you don’t have to become a member.
You will join the Zoom session through your ACHE account or the new account you set up if you are not a member.
*This program is awarded 1.5 hour of ACHE Virtual Interactive Education credits.
