University at Buffalo 
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Clinical and Translational Science InstituteAdvancing research discoveries to improve health for all
Mobilizing Community Resources to Achieve Health Equity During a Global Pandemic
Saturday, August 15, 2020 | 8:00 am - 3:15 pm | Zoom
Keynote Speakers: Alan J. Lesse, MD; RADM Richardae Araojo, PharmD, MS; and Raul Vazquez, MD, FAAFP
Third annual, community-based multidisciplinary conference focused on the goal of building a culture of health as the cornerstone of a plan to end health disparities among African Americans in Buffalo. The COVID-19 pandemic has made health inequities even more pronounced. Join healthcare professionals, community leaders, community members, advocates, and faculty for a day devoted to deepening our understanding of how social determinants affect health outcomes and health research in the African American community and in other underrepresented groups.
Co-sponsored by the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute, and the Buffalo Center for Health Equity. Media sponsor is Power 96.5. Community initiative sponsor is REACH: The Ferry Street Health & Wellness Project.
View a recording of the conference below
Recording 1
Recording 2
Breakout Session Information and Links
Housing - View a recording here, (password - 2usy#d%B)
Lead Presenter: Marie Cannon, MSW – Commissioner, Erie County Department of Social Services
Student Support: Katelyn Rogers - facilitator, Temera Cross (reporter) and Matthew Zahn – scribes
Employment - View a recording here
Lead Presenter: Doris Carbonell-Medina, ESQ – Project Director, Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI); Co-Presenters: Julie Barrett-O’Neill, JD – Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Buffalo, and Stephen Tucker, MBA – President & CEO – Workforce Training Center at Northland
Student Support: Sam Hidalgo – facilitator, Nonye Odukwe (reporter) and Rolando Cercone –scribes
Education – Back to School
Lead Presenter: Keli Koran Luchey, PhD – Crisis Counselor, Sweet Home High School; Co-Presenters: Kristina C. Jackson – Student Support Coach, Buffalo Public Schools, Kristina Torres – Early Warning Indicator Facilitator, Buffalo Public Schools, and Gellenia Smallwood – Director of Parent & Family Program, Say Yes Buffalo
Student Support: Aisha Townes – facilitator, Autum Carter (reporter) and Journee Robinson –scribes
Mental Health During the Pandemic - View a recording here
Lead Presenter: Kelly Wofford, Director of Community Relations, Erie County Medical Center, Minister, Impacting Love Global Ministry, and Founder, Front Seat Life
Student Support: Kristen Buell – facilitator, DeChantell Lloyd, (reporter) and Nancy Denis –scribes
Keynote Breakout Session (These will take place in the main Zoom/livestream)
Workshop1: Alan J. Lesse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Senior Associate Dean for Curriculum, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Workshop2: Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor; Director, UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute; Director, UB Community Health Equity Research Institute
Workshop3: Raul Vazquez, MD, FAAFP, President and CEO, G-Health Enterprises
Student Support: Lewis Wong – facilitator, and Esha Chebola (reporter) – scribe
Agenda
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions: Timothy F. Murphy MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor; Director, UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute; Director, UB Community Health Equity Research Institute
Opening Remarks: Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo
8:15 a.m. Welcome and Introduction of George Nicholas, MDiv: Rita Hubbard Robinson, JD, CEO, NeuWater & Associates, LLC; Associate Director, UB Community Health Equity Research Institute
Perspective and Report on Progress: George Nicholas, MDiv, Co-Convener, African American Health Equity Task Force; Chair, Buffalo Center for Health Equity
8:45 a.m. Keynote Speaker No. 1: Alan J. Lesse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Senior Associate Dean for Curriculum, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences — “The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Magnifying Lens for Health Disparities”
9:30 a.m. Questions
9:45 a.m. Breakout Session Tracks:
- Impact on the Community
- Mental Health During the Pandemic
- Employment
- Education - Back to School
- Housing
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Welcome: Michael Cain, MD, Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean, Jacobs School
Keynote Speaker No. 2: RADM Richardae Araojo, PharmD, MS, Associate Commissioner for Minority Health, Director, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Food and Drug Administration — “The FDA Perspective: Enhancing Racial and Ethnic Minority Representation in Clinical Trials”
11:15 a.m. Questions
11:30 a.m. Breakout Session Tracks:
- Research and the Community
- Mental Health During the Pandemic
- Employment
- Education - Back to School
- Housing
12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker No. 3: Raul Vazquez, MD, FAAFP, President and CEO, G-Health Enterprises — “Covid-19, Working With the Community to Shape Better Healthcare in Light of a Pandemic”
1:45 p.m. Questions
2:00 p.m. Breakout Session Tracks:
- Community Response
- Mental Health During the Pandemic
- Employment
- Education - Back to School
- Housing
2:30 p.m. Conference Evaluation: Heather Orom, PhD, Associate Professor of Community Health and Health Behavior, Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, School of Public Health and Health Professions https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5765171/Hope2020
2:35 p.m. Reporting Back From Workshop Groups
2:50 p.m. Next Steps (Facilitated Open Discussion): Pastor Kinzer M. Pointer, Pastor, Liberty Missionary Baptist Church; Co-Convener, African American Health Equity Task Force
Closing Remarks: George Nicholas, MDiv, Co-Convener, African American Health Equity Task Force; Chair, Buffalo Center for Health Equity
3:15 p.m. Adjourn