Third Annual Summer Research Summit on Health Equity Organized by the Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA on June 9, 2020
Authors: Rajagopal Abbhirami , Oluyomi Abiodun , Turner Acara E. , Johnson Adedoyin , Flores Alfred , Echeverria Alfredo , Asghar-Ali Ali Abbas , Eason Alyssa , Orange Amy , Dube Andile , Bryan Andres , Arvizu Andrew , Mangla Anil T. , Deendyal Anjali , Ramoutar Anjali , Jilla Anna M. , Wilson Annise , Jimenez Antonio , Green Ardawna Jael , Patel Avani , Itani Aya , Hurley Ayrea , Biscocho Bess , Anaele Beverly I. , Felix-Okoroj Blessing , Adams Brittany , Wagen Brooke , Hallmark Camden J. , Johnson Carole E. , Park Charles , Prasad Chaya , Lavy Chris , Ulack Chris , Maxey Christina , Nemeh Christopher , Rodgers Dakota , Gonzales Danielle , Whitman Danielle , Dawson Darius B. , Latini David , Canales Debra , Murray Debra Dianne , Dongarwar Deepa , Karri Deepu , Lockett Derek L. , Ratnapradipa Dhitinut , Maria Dr. Emma Santa , Ordonez Edgardo , Acosta Elisha , Lopez Elyse , Oduguwa Emmanuella , Chow Erica , Williams Eunique L. , Haffizulla Farzanna S. , Cuascut Fernando X. , Salihu Hamisu M. , Caceres Ibeth , Athanassaki Ionna D. , Atkins Jacob , Rodriguez Jacquelin , Perez Jairo Barrantes , Taylor Jalyce , Joy Jeffery , Chang Jennifer , Lopez Jennifer , Gaertner-Otto Jennifer R. , Spinler Jennifer , Norman Jensine’ , Suarez Joel , Jones Jordan , Gober Joslyn , Washington Jqar , Magrat Justin , Armknecht Karen , Dowdell Katherine , McDeavitt Kathleen , Kirk Katie , Tran Kaylinda , Snook Kaylyn , Fitzhugh Kelsey , Jarrett Kelsey , Hirschi Kendal D. , Ratnapradipa Kendra , Wiafe Kobby A. , Fisher Kristen , Carter Krystal , Rosen Laura , Garner Lauren D. , Ross Lindy , Ochoa Lyssa , Castellanos Maria I. , Vigil Maria , Marroquin Maricarmen , Masciale Marina , Palma Mario Zuniga , McNeese Marlene , Bennett Mary Beth , Morones Matthew , Abadom Megan , Sebastian Meghna , Furgurson Mia , Vento Mia , Hole Michael K. , Kauth Michael R. , Ludwig Michelle , Castelbuono Morgan , Mvula Mwamba , Sherif Nadia , Trinh Nancy , Rodriguez Natalia , Guerrero Natalie , Navejar Natasha M. , Pithia Neema , Christian Nick , Huntington-Klein Nick , Gras Nicole , Truong Nina , Perez Norma , Bakare Olusegun , Hoyer Paige , Costello Patrick , Hardigan Patrick , Nakata Paul , McCommon Rachel , Wanser Rachelle , Parker Ramona , Lastrapes Renee , Brown Ria , Goin-Kochel Robin P. , McIntire Russell , Janfaza Samantha , Willis Samuel E. , Erbati Sana , Pak Sang (Sam) , Grisales Sara L. , Gustafson Sarah , Liu Sean , Navarro Sergio M. , Johnson Shelby , Pinkstaff Sherry , Amin Shetal , Patel Shital M. , Thomas Sruthi , Farrow Taelor , Everett Tara , Fletcher Terri L. , Fasipe Titilope , Harris Toi B. , Tran Torrence , Nguyen Trung , Walker Valencia P. , Mercado Vicki , Cheuy Victor , Iwinski Victoria , Williams Whitney , Lagor William , Robinson William , Xie Yue 
Published: October 2020

This year’s summit was unique given the COVID-19 pandemic: a major global outbreak that has imposed severe restrictions in all aspects of our life. At the outset, we were faced with three mutually exclusive options. First option was to cancel the summit in its entirety: this was the easiest and most obvious choice once the COVID-19 pandemic forced a near total lockdown all over the country with unprecedented disruptions of normal daily activities as the disease announced its thunderous touchdown on United States (US) soil. It was also the most-logical response faced with uncertainty regarding summit logistics and expected poor attendance due to the raging pandemic. Second option was to conduct a digital summit restricted to local audiences at Baylor College of Medicine: this option entailed implementing a virtual summit with attendance restricted to participants from our institution only. It sounded like a reasonable choice but that would impede the presence of diversity of topics, perspectives, insights and experiential learning opportunities, which are what render the summit exciting and worth attending. And finally, the last option was to conduct a digital unrestricted summit open to all interested audiences throughout the US. The conduct of a virtual summit open to all participants from around the country was initially considered daunting given the likelihood of amplified technical problems associated with an array of internet access differentials around the country, which would require a strong Information Technology (IT) presence throughout the sessions. Nonetheless, the attractiveness of going national with a virtual summit, despite the pandemic and logistical challenges, slowly gained converts and became the dominant choice. The response and level of participation in this first virtual summit showed an unanticipated surge despite the increase in registration fees to cover IT costs. This year, we had attendees from all regions of the US as well as from the United Kingdom. The range of topics was quite diverse encompassing health disparities in relation to cancers, nutrition, musculo-skeletal disorders, amputation rates, vaccination uptakes and COVID-19 infections. Various solutions were passionately presented to address these disparities including novel health technologies, community engagement and partnerships, improvement in health literacy and alternative therapeutics. There were no hitches despite the complex breakout sessions, and above all, attendees were satisfied and offered outstanding evaluation scores. This was definitely a summit that metamorphosed from pessimism to a triumphant success!

 

Copyright © 2020 Salihu et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)which permits unre-stricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.