Assemblymember Karina Reyes and Dr. Michelle Morse, interim health commissioner and chief medical officer at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, headlined the third annual Health Equity Summit at Lehman College on May 9. Hosted by Black Health in partnership with Hostos Community College and Lehman’s School of Health Sciences, Human Services, and Nursing, the event was titled “Environmental Justice to Achieve Health Equity.”

“The Health Equity Summit offers our students the platform to address some of the most complex health disparities impacting our communities today,” said Elgloria Harrison, dean of the School of Health Sciences, Human Services, and Nursing.

Throughout the day, Lehman students presented research on public health issues such as asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, highlighting the real-world impact of environmental injustice in underserved communities.

“Every New Yorker deserves to achieve their full health potential… To repair this historic inequity, we must reinvest public health resources according to need,” said Michelle Morse.

Reflecting on the Summit’s third year, continued growth, and long-term goals, Shirley Torho, President & CEO of Black Health, said that “the Health Equity Summit continues to grow, reaching not only students in the health professions but also those still deciding on a career path. Through education, mentorship, and leadership development, the Health Equity Summit helps build a pipeline of future healthcare leaders—an important step toward reducing health disparities and improving outcomes in underserved communities.”

Watch the recap video on Instagram.