Plenary 1: COVID-19 and Our Core Values: Catalyzing the Call for Health Equity [Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA]

Speaker: Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and the underserved, highlighting the "fault lines" in the US health system, including devastating health disparities. Yet, this pandemic has also demonstrated the unfaltering altruism of clinicians who are providing compassionate care despite substantial risks to their own health, as well as the power of science to find better treatments and new vaccines. The "lessons learned" during this once-in-a-century pandemic must never be forgotten. They are a call to action for each of us to examine our core values and embrace our leadership roles, with the goal of "building back better" to strive for a more equitable, accessible and affordable health system that envisions a healthier future for all.

The pandemic has exacted a toll on the physical and mental health of our communities and ourselves. It has also highlighted depths of strength and dedication among healthcare workers, reflecting the best of our profession. Catalyzed by these profound events, participants are urged to examine their own core values, apply the "lessons learned" from battling COVID-19, and determine how they can strive to re-design our health systems to ensure a more just, healthier future for all.