Two keynote speakers and a panel discussion provided context and direction for attendees, helping to shape and guide the day’s conversations. Dr. Sarah Lyon-Callo, Senior Deputy Director of the Public Health Administration for the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, gave the first keynote address. Her presentation on health disparities in Michigan highlighted opportunities for discussion at the local level with the group. Lyon-Callo also provided insights into how researchers can collaborate with policymakers to ensure their work informs and shapes public health interventions in meaningful ways. 

The second keynote speaker was Dr. Richard T. Benson, Director of the Office of Global Health and Health Disparities in the NINDS Division of Clinical Research at the National Institutes of Health. His presentation provided a global perspective on reducing health disparities. Benson also illustrated how NIH supports interdisciplinary and community-driven research and the kinds of opportunities that exist between academic researchers and local organizations. 

A panel discussion included additional voices sharing insights and resource suggestions to the audience. Joining Lyon-Callo and Benson on the panel was Kwesi Brookins, Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement, Lauren Aerni-Flessner, Research Development Specialist in Research and Innovation, and Jan Delatorre, Senior Program Officer for Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles program with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Experiences were shared about university-community partnerships, rapid changes in healthcare policies, and types of resources available to researchers at MSU. 

The morning programming concluded with a funding announcement by Doug Gage, Vice President for Research and Innovation. The Health Equity Research funding opportunity will support transdisciplinary research projects that align with MSU’s 2030 strategic plan goals related to addressing health equity, and social determinants of health. This funding opportunity invites researchers from MSU, MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System and Corewell Health to submit proposals that reflect both academic fidelity and a deep commitment to community engagement, diversity, and inclusion. 

In alignment with the strategic plan, this pilot project funding opportunity will also correspond with objectives in the MSU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan, which advocates for the support and expansion of DEI-related research and scholarly initiatives at the Office of Research and Innovation. Multidisciplinary and cross-institutional teams will bring together expertise from diverse fields to address complex health equity issues. 

Afternoon programming featured a working tables session, where participants explored research themes together. Vigorous discussions explored techniques, such as epidemiological modeling, data analysis, policy analysis, qualitative research methods, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and others. Potential collaborative opportunities discussed included developing large-scale studies, developing policies aimed at reducing disparities in healthcare access and quality, developing biomarkers and longitudinal studies, and development of strategies and interventions. Programming was facilitated to encourage meaningful conversations within the sphere of health equity at the tables.

The MSU Health Equity Symposium was sponsored by the Office of Research and Innovation. The planning committee included members from MSU, MSU Extension, and Henry Ford Health System. For more information about the funding opportunity, please visit the Health Equity Research Funding Opportunity webpage.