Virtual Panel: Healing Lives – Tackling Hurdles in Children’s Health Care

Panelists joined us for a discussion with Michigan nonprofit and state government leaders on maternal and infant health care disparities, the need for collaborative efforts to mitigate this issue, and suggested steps to produce a multi-faceted approach to achieve equitable health care outcomes for all mothers and infants.

Discussion topics included:

• What are the next steps in improving the health care and well-being of all pregnant women?
• What additional steps are needed to mitigate maternal and infant health disparities among Michigan’s minority populations?
• What more can we do to give Michigan babies the best possible start in life?
• What can we do as a state to connect young children to a primary care physician to receive the needed immunizations, lead tests, and wellness checks?
• How can community partnerships help ensure mothers and children access quality health care close to home?

Speakers included:

• Host – Terrisca Des Jardins, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Michigan
• Keynote – Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPAMPHI, Chief Executive Officer, MPHI
• Meghan Groen, Medicaid Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• Amy Zaagman, executive director, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
• Vernice Anthony, lead consultant, Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition

Zoe Clark, reporter for Michigan Public Radio, moderated the panel discussion.

Renée Branch Canady provided opening remarks to kickoff the discussion. Dr. Canady serves as Chief Executive Officer of MPHI, a Michigan-based and nationally engaged non-profit public health institute dedicated to working together to center equity, promote health, and advance well-being for all. Dr. Canady is a recognized national thought leader in health inequities and disparities, cultural competence, and social justice. She has published and presented broadly on these topics, and her passion for this work is evident in her personal, academic, and professional life. Before becoming the CEO of MPHI, she served as the Health Officer and Director of the Ingham County Health Department. Her career path has also included serving as Director of Student Affairs in the College of Nursing at MI State University and Assistant Area Director in the Department of Residence Life at the University of North Carolina. She earned her PhD in Medical Sociology from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.