Rebuilding Trust, Delivering Equity:
By Office of the President | Oct 17, 2023
The Path Towards Healthcare Transformation
Last month, I was pleased to host the second annual Joel S. Levine Memorial Lectureship, welcoming and introducing distinguished guest Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., MPH, also the niece of Joel S. Levine, M.D., for whom the lectureship is named. Dr. Cohen, who President Joe Biden recently
appointed as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shared
her family’s strong legacy in healthcare. She highlighted the influence of her mother,
a nurse practitioner, and Dr. Levine, who was deeply committed to clinical practice,
policy, and advocacy for improving healthcare access, especially in underserved communities.
These familial influences were instrumental in shaping Dr. Cohen’s career in medicine.
This year’s keynote speaker was Toyin Ajayi, M.D., MPhil, who shared her remarkable journey from attending medical school, driven by a strong desire to help people. Dr. Ajayi’s upbringing in Africa during the AIDS epidemic left a lasting impression, instilling a deep commitment to service and social justice. Dr. Ajayi recounted her experiences as a resident and attending physician, where she witnessed the stark realities of a healthcare system in disarray, noticing a troubling pattern of patients repeatedly returning with advanced medical conditions that signaled systemic issues that needed addressing urgently.
Drs. Cohen and Ajayi shared their journeys and experiences, shedding light on the pressing challenges within the healthcare system. Their insights serve as a reminder of the importance of healthcare access, policy, and the commitment to improving the lives of individuals, especially those in underserved communities.
These observations occurred against the backdrop of alarming trends, including declining trust in healthcare, healthcare worker burnout, disparities in health outcomes, and a shortage of physicians. Dr. Ajayi felt a profound moral obligation to confront these problems head-on, emphasizing the imperative for change and the urgent need to address these challenges to bring about a positive transformation within the healthcare system.
Dr. Ajayi conveyed a message of hope by highlighting success stories and positive outcomes in the ongoing battle against healthcare inequalities. She offered concrete steps toward establishing a healthcare system that is inclusive and accessible to all individuals while also emphasizing the importance of comprehending the root causes of disparities, implementing effective strategies, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders. Through these efforts, there is a sense of optimism that high-quality healthcare can be made available to everyone, irrespective of their circumstances. Dr. Ajayi’s message is a call to action, inspiring a collective commitment to achieving a more equitable healthcare system.
The annual Joel S. Levine Memorial Lectureship continues to be a platform for meaningful discussions and reflections on healthcare and its potential for positive change.
View Dr. Ajayi’s presentation, Rebuilding Trust, Delivering Equity: The Path Towards Healthcare Transformation, here.
