With the current political state of our country, attending an event such as Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) Conference allowed current and future leaders to congregate for a positive and promising outlook on the future. The legislative welcome was inspiring and highlighted California’s sustainability goals for health equity. Speakers mentioned the approach being undertaken in California to address challenges from the current administration that undermine public health and individual rights.
The conference had two segments where we could select a breakout session of interest. The topic “Unlocking the Future: The Intersection of Broadband, Technology, and Health Equity”stood out. Before the conference, I read the panel’s description and began thinking about how crucial the internet’s role is in bridging gaps for healthcare access. The panelists delved beyond internet access and discussed the current and future role of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance health. Knowing little about how AI is designed or developed, Dr. Laura Tully gave insight into the pros and cons of AI’s utilization as a substitute for behavioral services and therapeutic practices. The panel gave me a new angle on AI’s potential use and benefits regarding health advancements and accessibility. Thinking about the future, artificial intelligence will eventually become a tool for healthcare support, and having professionals contribute to planning and implementation processes is critical to ensure the public’s best interests are promoted.
During the “Opening Plenary,” panelist Louise McCarthy gave prospective responses on how California can persevere following the 2024 election. She expressed that collaborations with local organizations could help to reinforce and strengthen state protections for health access. An organization she briefly mentioned was Black Women for Wellness, which happened to be my internship site in the summer of 2024. In fact, I had already contributed to protecting and reinforcing access to health care through my activities with the organization. Secondly, the observation that specific regions in California could use political shifts emphasizes the ongoing political battles in rural counties. Louise described the Central Valley, where I reside. As I complete my final undergraduate year, I assess the paths I could pursue and the potential change I can make in my local community. Hearing acknowledgment that my community could benefit from a political shift, I felt inspired to personally reach out to my House of Representatives and to apply for a legislative internship position.
Attending the conference allowed me to network with various individuals, including fellow students, sponsors, policymakers, community health activists, and those from different avenues of public health. I networked with Patrick Godette, a communications consultant at Aurrera Health Group. I learned about this position and some of his responsibilities in the role. We discussed communication methods utilized during the pandemic and various lessons learned. I shared some information about myself, including a communications course I am enrolled in and class material on designing campaigns for public health interventions. Additionally, I shared the topic of my honor research thesis paper, which is health policy research project for the Medi-Cal Doula Program. I connected with this person through LinkedIn and plan to stay in touch beyond the conference.
As a Cal-IHEA Health Equity Scholar who attended the ITUP conference, I gained valuable insights from experts working to advance health equity and shape future policies. Overall, the opportunity to network with legislators, community health activists, analysts, policy advocates, and other health leaders established a well-rounded foundation for me as a future health equity activist.