Pictured l. to r.: Christopher King, PhD, MHSc, FACHE; Robert Valdez, PhD, MHSA; Joy Lewis, MSW, MPH; Laura Magaña, PhD, MS

At the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)’s 2023 Annual Meeting this past weekend, Dr. Magaña, ASPPH’s President and CEO, participated in a forum panel titled, “Policy’s Role in Health Equity”—days after the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) declared race-conscious admissions policies unconstitutional.

Dr. Magaña was able to speak to ASPPH’s statement expressing deep concern regarding the SCOTUS decision and emphasizing the importance of a diverse workforce that represents all our populations to reduce health inequities and save lives, which is supported by scientific evidence.

She was joined by the following panelists, who together showcased their collective efforts to keep advancing the needle on health equity:

• Christopher King, PhD, MHSc, Dean School of Health Georgetown University (Moderator)
• Joy Lewis, MSW, MPH, Senior Vice President, Health Equity Strategies and Executive Director, Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE), American Hospital Association
• Robert Valdez, PhD, MHSA Director Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Department of Health and Human Services