The Mount Sinai Health System’s Health Equity Data Assessment (HEDA) team made significant strides at the International Society for Quality in Health Care Conference in Istanbul,Turkey.

Those attending included HEDA members Pamela Abner, MPA, CPXP, Senior Vice President and Health Equity Officer, the Mount Sinai Health System, and Chief Diversity Operations Officer, Office for Diversity and Inclusion; Lyndia Hayden, MS, PMP, Senior Director of Data Integrity and Equity Analytics, Corporate Health System Affairs, Office for Diversity and Inclusion; and Doran Ricks, MS, RN, MBA, Vice President of Data Quality and Stewardship.

The conference theme was “Health for People and Planet: Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future,” focusing on enhancing health care quality and safety worldwide.

“Attending the ISQua conference was a wonderful opportunity to hear about experiences from experts and colleagues around the world and share strategies for improving health access and outcomes,” said Mr. Ricks. “Many of the challenges we face in health care are common, even across international borders. It is key that we take the time to learn from the experiences of others.”

The HEDA team showcased their work, titled “Unleashing the Power of Data for Health Equity: A Blueprint for Elevating Quality and Patient Safety,” and presented a poster titled “Providing an Equity Lens on Quality Metrics: Evaluation of ‘Left Without Being Seen’ in the Emergency Department,” which emphasized the critical need to evaluate patients who leave the emergency department without being seen.

Throughout the conference, the team collaborated with fellow health care professionals, sharing insights on advancing health equity and committing to bring valuable findings back to the community.

“I was surprised to learn how much we have in common with other nations who struggle to address health equity. It was a most rewarding experience and exchange of ideas, and an opportunity for future collaboration,” said Ms. Abner.

As the HEDA team wrapped up their participation in the conference, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the global discourse on health equity and quality improvement.

“The conference served as an invaluable platform for the HEDA team to share insights, foster collaboration, and advocate for advancing health equity on a global scale,” said Ms. Abner.

Mount Sinai proudly participated in the 55th Annual African American Day Parade, showcasing a vibrant display of support and unity. Held in Harlem, the event—celebrated on the third Sunday of September—is renowned as the nation’s largest parade dedicated to honoring African American culture, heritage, and community spirit.

This year’s parade, held Sunday, September 15, highlighted the critical connection between effective leadership and civic participation. The parade theme was “Good Leaders = Good Government…Vote.” In support of this theme, Mount Sinai Health System showcased its commitment to community engagement and health.

The Mount Sinai Emergency Department joined the procession with an ambulance, symbolizing the integration of health and community support. The parade route extended up Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, from 111th to 136th Street, drawing cheers and enthusiasm from the thousands in attendance.

Reflecting on the experience, Mount Sinai participants shared their thoughts about the parade.

“It was great coming together with other colleagues of the Mount Sinai Health System to celebrate our culture and contributions.  As a Mount Sinai employee, I was so proud to represent this amazing health care system as we marched in the community we serve,” said Ayrelynn Williams, Laboratory Client Services Representative at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “It showed the hospital is fully invested and engaged with the patients they serve. Together, we serve; we are stronger together!”

“Being a part of this celebration, honoring the rich contributions of the African American community, was truly special,” said Jazmin Rodriguez, MBA, Communications Manager. “It was amazing to see so many people come together to uplift our voices and champion positive change.”

Tiffany Keith, Program Manager, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, said she grew up in Harlem and always wanted to participate in the African American Day Parade.

“It brings me such joy to see how Mount Sinai Health System connects with the community we serve,” she said. “Sharing a day with colleagues is not just good for morale and culture; during these challenging times, it allows us to see beyond titles and connect with our shared humanity.”

The parade provided a festive atmosphere for employees, their families, and friends, all of whom enjoyed the lively celebration while advocating for positive change and community involvement.

Visesha Ainapudi, MPH, CHES, left, Program Facilitator, and Lesly Sanchez, Program Participant

The Mount Sinai Department of Health Education hosted its second in-person cohort of the Public Health and Racial Justice Program for youth ages 15-18 years in July and August. During the six-week program, 28 participants—selected from nearly 300 applicants—learned about a variety of public health topics through a racial justice lens.

The Department of Health Education created the Public Health and Racial Justice Program in the spring of 2020 in direct response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. Emphasizing the power and importance of civic engagement, community advocacy, youth activism, and the cultivation of a diverse public health workforce, the program builds skills, fosters pride, and nurtures community connection so that all participants see themselves as powerful agents of change.

With generous support from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, the program provided participant stipends, MetroCards, and lunch vouchers to offset financial barriers to participation.

The program’s hospital-community partnerships highlighted how clinical medicine and health care access are complemented by the advocacy and activism of community-based movements, often spearheaded by leaders of color. Participants heard from more than 45 guest presenters, including community experts from community-based health care collectives, city government, and non-profits.

Mount Sinai Health System leaders offered their educational, personal, and professional wisdom to participants, with representation from a variety of departments including Emergency Medicine, the Institute for Health Equity Research, Graduate Medical Education, the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and more. Through a partnership with the Mount Sinai Simulation Teaching and Research Center, participants gained concrete skills through hands-on trainings in adult and infant CPR, naloxone administration, tourniquet application, and birthing simulation.

One program participant said, “I learned a lot from people from the hospital who would come talk to us and tell us about their career and how they got where they were… Sometimes they fell down and got back up. Their stories were rocky but they ended up in a good position they enjoyed, and that gives me hope.”

This year’s cohort was the largest in the program’s history. The facilitators took great care to prioritize group cohesion, building in time for engaging and fun activities, individual check-ins, and small group activities to develop relationships between the youth.

One participant shared, “My favorite thing from the summer were the icebreakers and games. It wasn’t like school where you go straight to working or watching or listening. You get to learn different things about the people around you. It starts a conversation.”

As the program progressed, some of the participants even felt encouraged to step into peer leadership roles with group activities. “I felt like I really belonged, and I don’t feel that way often,” said one participant. Another added, “It felt empowering being surrounded by a group of girls my age who were so intelligent, kind, and dependable.”

The 2024 Public Health and Racial Justice Program youth cohort and facilitators

Participants completed a final “Photovoice” project, applying what they learned throughout the program to a community health issue that mattered to them. Each young person had the platform to voice their perspective, educate Mount Sinai staff and representatives from New York City government and community-based organizations, and facilitate critical dialogue to encourage action as youth leaders. Participants shared their Photovoice project at a culminating event, attended by Mount Sinai staff, community partners, family, and friends.

One participant said the most meaningful aspect of the program was “being able to present everything we’d been working on and learning about for 6 weeks. I loved hearing the things people found to be impactful in their communities during the Photovoice presentations.”

Another young person, reflecting on their experience, said, “This program has helped me to speak up about the way that I feel about certain issues and to become more educated about issues that I didn’t know too much about. With the knowledge I’ve gained from this program I can go out into the world and be an activist.”