ODPHP Announces Keynote and Roundtable Speakers for the 2021 Healthy Aging Symposium

This event already occurred, but you can view recordings of symposium sessions and trainings. If you didn’t attend the symposium, you’ll just need to sign up first to view the recordings.

On September 8 and 9, ODPHP and Trust for America’s Health are hosting the 2021 Healthy Aging Symposium. During this free, 2-day virtual event, attendees will hear from researchers, local and state health officers, aging directors, and policymakers from across the nation who are making a positive impact in the lives of older adults and their families.

The symposium will feature prominent speakers focused on important issues facing older adults. Attendees will hear from:

  • Anshu Banerjee, PhD, MD, MPH, Director of the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing at the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Banerjee has more than 30 years of experience in public health and has worked in a variety of capacities with civil society, bilateral agencies, funding agencies, and WHO. 
  • Deborah Carr, PhD, a life course sociologist who uses survey data and quantitative methods to study social factors linked with health and well-being in later life. Dr. Carr is a Professor and Chair of Sociology at Boston University and author of the book “Golden Years? Social Inequality in Later Life.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to tune in to roundtables conducted by leaders in healthy aging research, policymaking, and programming.

The Equity in Aging: The Impact of Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity roundtable will include voices from across the federal government. They’ll discuss the many ways that collaborative federal work impacts social determinants of health (SDOH) and differences in health outcomes that many aging Americans experience. Panelists include:

  • Regina Gray, Director, Affordable Housing Research & Technology, Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 
  • Andy Mao, JD, Deputy Director, (Fraud Section)/Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice 
  • LaShawn Mclver, MD, MPH, Director, Office of Minority Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  
  • Ernest Moy, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Office of Health Equity, Veterans Health Administration
  • Moderator: Yen Lin, MPH, Healthy Aging Lead, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Innovation in Aging: Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Rural, Frontier, and Tribal Communities roundtable will feature a discussion on innovative funding opportunities and foundation-led projects to address the needs of older adults in rural, frontier, and tribal communities. Panelists include:

  • Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, John A. Hartford Foundation  
  • J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, President and CEO, Trust for America’s Health 
  • Sarita Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA, President and CEO, SCAN Foundation
  • Jeri Rathbun, MPH, Program Officer, Empire Health Foundation (WA)
  • Kari Sederburg, MPA, Director, Healthy Aging, Michigan Health Endowment Fund

Throughout the symposium, attendees will also hear from a number of key HHS officials, including Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health; RDML Paul Reed, MD, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; and RDML Felicia Collins, MD, MPH, FAAP, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health.

Additional speakers and breakout sessions will be added! Don’t miss the chance to hear from these and other healthy aging leaders — register for the symposium today. To stay up to date on the latest information about the symposium, including additional speakers, sign up for email updates on Healthy Aging.

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