At this critical time when leadership is on everyone’s mind, it’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves that leadership is so much more than the responsibility of the individuals at the top. We all can work to alter the course of the future, to be the voice for change and inspiration for all who come after us.
Like so many of you, I am dismayed by the suffering caused by COVID-19, especially in communities of color. In the U.S., Black and Latinx Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to die and almost five times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19. Like many of my fellow clinicians, I witnessed firsthand the loss and devastation caused by the pandemic, while volunteering on the front lines at Bellevue Hospital during the height of the pandemic in New York City, and its inescapable impact on the communities NYAM serves.
This experience has further fueled the passion that I and so many in our NYAM community have to address the inequities that prevent everyone from access to all that they need to be healthy.
We at NYAM have committed to being a leader in ensuring a healthy life for all.
This commitment includes amplifying the voices of those who deserve to be heard, sharing power and creating access to what it takes to be healthy such as safe housing, healthy food and quality healthcare. We’re also committed to leading by example as an advocate for change. It is my hope that you will support us in this journey.
Our research, evaluation, programs and partnerships are collectively building the base of knowledge needed to inform policymakers and guide fair healthcare decisions. We’re addressing short-term knowledge gaps, especially around COVID-19, and have applied our expertise to topics such as infection control in long-term care facilities, analysis of COVID-19 patient data and community resources, and guiding community leaders in meeting the needs of older adults during the isolation of the pandemic.
Looking ahead, we are working toward assembling a network of diverse scholars and researchers to build the health equity knowledge base that will drive polices to promote change. We are also committed to leading by example through our ongoing efforts to further diversify our organization and promote an inclusive culture.
We are living through a moment where great changes must be made. With your help, NYAM can continue to lead to assure a healthy life for all. Please join us by making a generous gift today.
Thank you and be well.
Judith A. Salerno, MD, MS
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