January 28, 2026

From December 3-5, 2025, leaders in the Dornsife School of Public Health’s Office of Culture, Community and Opportunity (CCO) participated in the 2025 Partners for Advancing Health Equity (P4HE) Summit in Montgomery, Alabama.

P4HE provided a space for reflection, encouraging attendees to explore how place, history, and community leadership can shape national approaches to health equity. Guided by the theme “Collaborative Strategies for a Better Future,” the summit emphasized working sessions that foster cross-sector engagement, support the co-creation of practical tools, and equip participants with actionable insights to advance a shared vision for the future.

In preparation for the summit, Reneé H. Moore, PhD, research professor, associate dean for culture, community & opportunity, and director of the Biostatistics Scientific Collaboration Center; Jordan Wilson, MPH, biostatistician and qualitative researcher; and Reina Lopez, MSW, senior project manager, prepared various materials that help tell the story of Dornsife’s path to advancing health equity.

Joined by fellow institution representatives for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Transforming Academia for Equity (TAE) grant which is approaching year four this March, Moore and Wilson showcased Dornsife’s TAE journey in a gamified poster display, The Drexel TAE Journey Map Game [PDF], during the Gallery Walk on day one. Their poster was inspired by the game Chutes and Ladders. They chose this theme to illustrate the progress and resets of TAE efforts in a manner that evokes the joy of childhood.

There are eight major milestones that the poster highlights from establishing an Office to helping launch the Dornsife’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan [PDF]. Those who visited the display were encouraged to roll a dice and the corresponding number would prompt Moore or Wilson to share more information on the numbered topics. The Gallery Walk was an opportunity to connect with fellow researchers and leaders including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Sheldon Watts, PhD, senior program officer, and Alonzo Plough, PhD, chief science officer and vice president of research-evaluation-learning.

The day concluded with a keynote speech from artist and activist, Michelle Browder, who founded the Mothers of Gynecology monument and Health and Wellness Museum and Clinic. The monument and the museum and clinic honor three slave women, Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, who were victims of medical experimentation by the “father of gynecology” that took place in Montgomery. Browder detailed her story of leveraging art, history, and conversation to mentor marginalized and disfavored students through visual arts and spoken word. With Browder’s leadership and vision, the building where these experiments took place now serves as a museum, clinic, and gathering space for discussions and training focused on maternal and women’s health.

“Hearing Michelle Browder share her story and work was profoundly moving. The transformation of a space where enslaved women were dehumanized and subjected to experimentation into one that actively reclaims narratives and trains doulas, midwives, OB/GYNs, and others is revolutionary. The way art, history, activism, and public health come together to confront and close gaps in women’s health disparities is incredibly powerful and inspiring, ” said Moore.

The next day Moore and Wilson visited the monument, toured the new museum and clinic space, and met Browder (image shown above).

Also on day two, Moore participated in a panel discussion that showcased how individuals and institutions can continue moving to equity in complex times with researchers from Health Equity Scholars for Action (HES4A) and TAE institutional representatives. After the panel discussion, the panelists joined members of the audience in completing a guided exercise to identify the most urgent barriers and where they occur. Then in small breakout groups, they discussed case studies, experiences, and successful strategies.

“During this three-part workshop, it was valuable to first learn more about the work of other TAE institutions and junior faculty HES4A researchers, and then to engage in small-group discussions with participants about shared barriers, followed by success stories and strategies for overcoming them. After the workshop—and throughout the remainder of the P4HE Summit—I was humbled by the number of people who approached me to share that our Drexel CCO/TAE journey had been helpful to them. I also received many questions about our CCO Shared Leadership Team (SLT), with several expressing interest in creating similar SLTs at their own institutions,” shared Moore. “I am incredibly proud of our 50+ member SLT—comprised of students, faculty, and staff across 14 units or departments—that convenes at least quarterly to inform and strengthen culture, community, health equity research, and public health practice at Dornsife.”

Later that day, Moore presented "Touring the TAE Journey: A Dialogue [PDF] at a working session. This presentation further elaborated on CCO’s team, major achievements, and gave a glimpse of what’s ahead for Dornsife.

On the final day, summit attendees had the opportunity to screen an exclusive premiere of The Skin You’re In docuseries film. The film explores why Black Americans live sicker and die younger than any other ethnic group in the United States and offers solutions to ending these health disparities. This event concluded with a session on using the power of storytelling to promote equity. Clint Smith, PhD, writer, poet and scholar, presented this topic. Smith is a New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America.

The three-day event was overall inspiring and impactful for CCO leaders at Dornsife.

“I appreciated how the conference showcased art and creativity as effective tools for storytelling and advancing public health and public well-being,” said Wilson.

“The P4HE Summit was an amazing opportunity to share our CCO journey, and being part of the RWJF TAE initiative continues to be a powerful learning experience. I left P4HE inspired by every conversation and presentation, feeling empowered and renewed in our commitment to advancing health equity.” shared Moore.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Culture, Community and Opportunity at Drexel Dornsife