The 2020 Emerging Issues Symposium was held virtually Friday, October 23, 2020 - our first virtual Symposium and seventh annual. This year's Symposium, on the topic of "The Changing Face of Health Care" featured six distinguished speakers, who spoke in four different areas of healthcare, access and disparities. 

Facts & Disparities 

Kayla Fair, DrPH, Assistant Professor, Public Health Education, School of Public Health, UNT Health Science Center
Dr. Fair spoke about the social determinants of good health, including how language barriers and different environments can lead to disparities.

Access to Healthcare

LaTasha Jarrett, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, North Texas Area Community Health Center 
Dr. Jarrett talked about things that prevent access to good health care, including lack of education, transportation and cultural barriers. She spoke about the need for an integrated approach to treating patients that overcomes some of the barriers to good health. 

Beverly Powell, MBA, Texas State Senator
Senator Beverly Powell spoke about the need to expand Medicaid to alleviate one of Texas' sad statistics: leading the nation in uninsured women and children. "Texas is literally the uninsured capital of the nation," she said, citing statistics that show Texas with more than 5 million uninsured people. 

Consumers and Providers

Susan R. Bailey, M.D., President, American Medical Association
Dr. Bailey spoke about the rise of telemedicene during the pandemic and how it can help with patients who struggle to get to doctor visits due to lack of transportation or time off from work. She also addressed the need for more gender inclusivity in the medical profession, saying the "long standing policies about maternal leave and paternal leave must change."

Education and Literacy

Carol Brown, CEO,  Como Lions Heart
Brown spoke of her experiences working in the Como community and how health disparities are experienced by women and others in some communities. Brown said communication issues, including using complicated language, can discourage people from visiting their doctor. 

Diana Cervantes, DrPH, Assistant Professor and Director, MPH Epidemiology Program, School of Public Heath, UNT Health Science Center
Dr. Cervantes spoke about public health topics including Health Associated Infections and mental health issues. 

See a list of our 2020 Sponsors