Tackling High Priority Health Challenges in Underserved Communities Status

The need to develop creative solutions to priority health challenges affecting underserved communities is more important than ever, particularly when it comes to areas such as cancer, cardiometabolic disease, maternal health and substance use disorder. The discussion will be moderated by Mass General Brigham (MGB)’s Chief Community Health Officer and the Executive Director of The Kraft Center for Community Health, Dr. Elsie Taveras, and feature Kwamane Liddell, Founder & CEO of ThriveLink and the winner of the inaugural Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health, along with Alisha Lalani, Chief Growth Officer at Mae Health and Chris Thompson, Founder & CEO of Sober Sidekick, both Kraft Prize finalists, in addition to Dr. Jeffrey Yang, a thoracic surgeon at MGB and the Founding Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Research (CAIIRE). The panelists will offer a unique “community health” entrepreneur perspective, speaking to the driving forces behind their innovative organizations, how they prioritize a community-centered design approach in their work and what the journey has been in getting the financial resources needed to carry out their mission.