IFDHE president discusses diversity in digital health

At AcademyHealth’s 10th Health Datapalooza conference yesterday in Washington, D.C., Duane Reynolds, president and CEO of the AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, participated in a panel discussion focused on practical solutions to increasing diversity and inclusion for digital health companies. Panelists said it was imperative that digital health companies examine their hiring practices to address diversity in order to create better products to advance health equity in their communities. “Having diversity at the table allows us to be much more connected to the needs of the community and to think strategically about how to engage individuals such that their health improves through the care delivery process,” Reynolds said. Also on the panel were Lisa Suennen, managing director, Manatt; Letitia Dzirasa, health commissioner, Baltimore City Health Department; and Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO, b.well Connected Health.