The Institute of Medicine describes social determinants of health as the conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that social determinants of health, such as social isolation, loneliness, food insecurity and transportation, make up 75 percent of the population’s health. Addressing these barriers to health as a community will be crucial to seeing East Tennessee make well-being a way of life.
The Greater Knoxville Health Advisory Board will host a Social Determinants of Health Summit on Thurs., Jan. 10 at Second Harvest of East Tennessee Food Bank, 136 Harvest Lane, Maryville, TN.
Thursday’s thought leadership event, set from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will focus on sharing knowledge and addressing the Social Determinants of Health which impact the Greater Knoxville community.
Humana, one of Tennessee’s leading health benefits companies, is partnering with Second Harvest and other East Tennessee community organizations, health care providers and, employers to convene the Jan. 10 summit as part of Humana’s Bold Goal to improve the health of Knoxville 20 percent by 2020.
Humana established the Greater Knoxville Health Advisory Board as a community-based coalition to address the key barriers to improved health in East Tennessee, such as diabetes, health literacy, nutrition and mental health. The advisory board is chaired by Humana Mid-South Medicare Medical Director Dr. David Annand and Walgreens Regional Health Care Director Gene Hoover.
Local community and regional leaders will discuss in detail how they’re screening and researching social determinants of health, introducing it into their workflows and connecting individuals to services. For example, Humana and Walgreens are piloting a food insecurity screening program within the Knoxville Walgreens Healthcare Clinic locations.
Scheduled speakers and presenters at the Social Determinants of Health Summit include:
- Dr. Andrew Renda, MD, Humana Corporate Strategy Director, Population Health
- Elaine Streno, Executive Director, Second Harvest of East Tennessee
- Johan Larsen, President of Catapult4D
- Melissa Knight, Executive Director, InterFaith Clinic
- Gene Hoover, Regional Health Care Director Tennessee/Kentucky, Walgreens
- Dr. Herschell Baker Jr., Pastor, Alcoa-Maryville Church of God
- Sean Fordham, Account Executive, Tivity Health
- Kenneth Kell, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Tivity Health
To register for the summit, or for more information, go to: https://knoxvillesocialdeterminantsofhealthsummit.eventbrite.com
