The following was contributed by Poorani Sekar, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases. Sekar was an event attendee, planning committee member, and former co-chair of the conference.
The conference was held at the College of Public Health as usual, and it kicked off with presentation of the inclusive leadership awards. (Announcing the 2022 Inclusive Leadership Award recipients – The Loop (uiowa.edu).
Lynette Cooper, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, gave a brief overview of social determinants of health. She impressed upon us that only 20% of health is from clinical care and the rest is determined by social factors.
Following her overview, we delved into some of the components that determine the overall health of a person. A panel discussion ‘Navigating Social determinants that Impact Access to Care’ and the panelists included Jeanine Abrons, PharmD, who is both faculty at the UI College of Pharmacy and co-directs the UI Mobile Clinics, and Tracy Rodgers, BS, who is with the Iowa Department of Public Health and directs the I-Smile project, ensuring dental care for vulnerable patients. Abrons said that in her work with the mobile clinic she meets people where they are. She gave examples of offering COVID vaccinations at La Regia Taqueria, and other restaurants around town. The UI Mobile Clinic has 14 sites and volunteer students and trainees (under the supervision of faculty), offering screening and treatment for common health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. They also offer acute care services, mental health services, as well as deliver vaccinations.
Rodgers spoke about the I-SMILE project in Iowa, which offers access to oral health for all Iowa children and pregnant women through contracts with dental providers. This was accomplished with contracts made with providers and organizations who were willing to accept patients covered by Medicaid insurance. She also spoke of the I-SMILE Silver pilot program offering a similar program to senior citizens in 10 counties in the state as well who unfortunately have lost access to dental care due to their insurance coverage changing after retirement. The session was moderated by Carrie Mean, LISW.
- Mobile Clinic – An initiative of the University of Iowa Health Services Students (iowamobileclinic.org)
- I-Smile Dental Home Initiative – Home (iowa.gov)
Next was a panel discussion ‘Addressing Social Determinants in the Community.’ The panelists included Julia Ganda, MSW, with the Center for Disabilities and Development, Janania Ladiester, BA, Student and Family advocate with the Iowa City Community School District, Corey Dion Lewis, BA, Health Coach at Broadlawns Medical Center, Des Moines, and Tracy Hightshoe, BA, Director of Neighborhood and Development Services for the City of Iowa City. This session was moderated by Sally Rieck, LMSW.
Landiester spoke about her work with the Latinx community. She stated that as a Spanish speaker she was able to connect with the students and their families. She discussed the importance of mental health, which is something that carries a lot of stigma. She offered resources, dispelled any concerns, and also met her clients “where they were at,” including the parking lot, in their mobile home, making them feel comfortable and fostering trust with them, so that they would be open to exploring any of the mental health services that her organization offers.
Lewis discussed the various ways in which he ensured access to good health for patients who visited Broadlawns. As a health coach he does not just stop at teaching people about healthy eating habits, he ensures that they have access to the tools that make those habits stick. For example, he offers his clients a produce prescription, which can help them get fresh produce at participating markets. He also talked about the Tech and Teach programs through which people in the community can train as CNAs and hence able to help their community while having a job in healthcare.
- Produce Prescription Program — Iowa Healthiest State Initiative
- TECH & TEACH Apprenticeships | Broadlawns Medical Center
We were very intrigued to learn about medicolegal partnerships (MLPs), which address social determinants of health by ensuring access to equitable care for patients. This is something most of us hadn’t hear about. Two lawyers Emily Ehlers, JD, (Disability Rights Iowa) and Erin O. Planalp, JD, (Iowa Legal Aid) gave us an overview of MLPs. The session was moderated by David Moser, PhD. Ehlers and Planalp stated that if something in their clients’ life or environment is preventing them from good health, they offer legal remedies. They work on cases where clients have had Medicaid applications or prescriptions for medications rejected. They also go through legal channels when clients live in substandard and unsafe living conditions and ensure the homeowner or landlord remedies that. Nearly 130 hospitals and health care systems invest in MLPs so that their patients get the best access to good health as possible. Panalp is a member of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s MLP. There are a few systems in Iowa that have MLPs as well.
- What We Fund — Mid-Iowa Health Foundation (midiowahealth.org)
- UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot — Mid-Iowa Health Foundation (midiowahealth.org)
The conference was chaired by Nicole del Castillo, MD, MPH, Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CCOM and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.
Planning Committee
Megan Carney, MSW, LISW
Margaret Chorazy, PhD
Lastascia Coleman, ARNP, CNM
Lynette Cooper, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C
Anne Crotty, MPH
Nicole Del Castillo, MD, MPH
Valerie Garr, MA
Jontell James
Krisha Keeran
Tara Martin, BA
Denise Martinez, MD
Michelle McQuistan, DDS
Lou Ann Montgomery, PhD, RN-BC
David Moser, PhD
Janet Niebuhr, MOL
Lama Noureddine, MD
Lori Raw, BA, CHCP
Celine Robins
Katie Robinson, MD, PhD
Poorani Sekar, MD
Barbara Stanerson
Julie Temple, BA
Ily Kristine Yumul-Non, MD
