May 2, 2024

Last month, we had the privilege of a visit from Keshia M. Pollack Porter, PhD, MPH, Bloomberg Centennial Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Pollack Porter joined us as part of the UHC’s Invited Speaker Series, and presented a talk on “Promoting Policies that Advance Health Equity.”

Dr. Pollack Porter began by describing how her career and research interests led to this focus, starting with how she responds when people ask, “Why policy?”

“Policy touches all of us,” she explained, whether it’s organizational policy, institutional policy, or even a return policy from Amazon.

“The other thing I’ll say is that policy is one path to permanent social change and helping with long-term systems reform. I believe that we can change policies to support people’s ability to thrive and to not be harmed.”

These policy changes, in turn, can change people’s perceptions and attitudes, and even dismantle long-term oppressive systems. “By shaping policy," Dr. Pollack Porter continued, "people can help undo the wrongs of the policies that exist.”

“We all have a role in policy. How we engage is unique to ourselves, and we should engage in a way that makes sense for us. You have a voice in this process.”

WATCH: Dr. Keshia Pollack Porter Talks “Promoting Policies that Advance Health Equity” at the UHC