After a career in pediatrics and both public and private health leadership, Dr. Lauren Smith is now stepping into the new position of chief health equity and strategy officer at the CDC Foundation. In this episode, she discusses the perspectives on health equity, systemic racism and community resiliency that she's bringing to the role.

Dr. Lauren Smith is the chief health equity and strategy officer for the CDC Foundation. In her new role for the foundation, Dr. Smith partners with senior leaders to develop and drive strategic efforts to embed health equity across COVID-19 response activities.

For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[1:40 ] Dr. Smith shares her motivation to work as a pediatrician and how that choice shaped her career.

[3:57 ] Dr. Smith talks about the impact of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[7:08 ] Dr. Smith explains why trust and credibility are part of the core mission of public health.

[8:20 ] Dr. Smith talks about health equity and how it impacted her work.

[10:40 ] Is there a greater awareness about the role racism plays in public health than before the pandemic?

[12:40 ] COVID-19 has worked as a catalyst to bring racism and inequality to light.

[14:05 ] Dr. Smith shares the topics she wants to address in her new position at the CDC Foundation.

[17:10 ] Who are the key partners Dr. Smith is looking for?

[18:56 ] What are the main messages to get out to the public about ways in which they can engage in the mission of public health?

[21:00 ] Dr. Smith shares key tools to make sure important public health messages are communicated in accessible ways to communities.

[23:22 ] What are the greatest challenges and opportunities to serve populations at risk?

[26:25 ] What role should equity play in how the vaccine is rolled out?

[28:20 ] How can the concerns of populations at risk be alleviated?

[30:30 ] Dr. Smith talks about the different sectors of public health coming together to address the challenges presented by the current pandemic.

[32:50 ] Dr. Smith talks about the involvement of the private sector.

[34:08 ] What advice does Dr. Smith have for the future public health leaders of America?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• CDC Foundation
• Visit CDC for detailed information about COVID 19