Navigating Health Equity: A Look into Cultural Awareness, Corporate Strategy, and Community Engagement with Tamara Smith

Exploring Health: Macro to Micro with Parker Condit

My guest today is Tamara Smith Ms, CHES

Bio:

• Healthcare Executive and Health Equity Leader
• National Assoc. Vice President, Strategy Advancement - Humana
• DrPH (Health Leadership) - UNC Gillings School of Public Health
• Podcast & Host - Our Journey To Equity (linked below)

As a child uprooted from the diversity of Florida to the affluent uniformity of Northeast Atlanta, I faced a stark awakening to the realities of racial and cultural divides, and nowhere did these gaps yawn wider than in the realm of healthcare. My conversation with Tamara Smith, a beacon in the field of health education and strategy, takes us through the complex terrain of health equity, social justice, and the pressing need for cultural awareness. With Tamara's illuminating podcast "Our Journey to Equity" as a backdrop, we unravel the intricate differences between equality and equity, understanding that true justice in healthcare involves not just providing resources, but tailoring them to meet diverse community needs.
Tamara's role at Humana shines a light on the transformative potential within the healthcare industry to embrace a national health equity strategy, and we dissect the nuances of behavior change and the importance of awareness preceding education. We probe into the framework that guides health equity in a corporate setting, discussing how to translate grand strategies into tangible outcomes for local communities.
Navigating the delicate balance between corporate influence and grassroots activism, we address the skepticism that arises from transient corporate commitments and the misalignment of incentives in government resource allocation. We recognize the small but powerful steps that can ignite systemic change, and Tamara shares insights from her pursuit of a doctorate in public health, aiming to lay down research-backed frameworks for advancing health equity. This episode is a clarion call to celebrate the incremental victories on the path to a just healthcare system and to stay engaged, informed, and proactive in the quest for equity.
Connect with Tamara Smith:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-smith-ojte/
Our Journey To Equity Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/5TwXyHjXqQCB0qjHxGjsMm?si=5a51ae65fb5a4e08
Our Journey To Equity Podcast (Website): https://ourjourneytoequity.com/
Our Journey to Equity Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@OurJourneytoEquity

Stay Connected with Parker Condit:

• YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@parkercondit/featured
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• LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-c-4529934a/
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DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general information only. It is not intended as a substitute for general healthcare services does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. If you have medical conditions you need to see your doctor or healthcare provider. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk.

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1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Health Equality, Equity, and Justice (00:02:05)

3. Cultural Awareness and Health Equity (00:08:45)

4. Transforming Health Equity in Humana (00:15:31)

5. Community Engagement for Health Equity (00:19:47)

6. Community Engagement and Health Equity (00:27:17)

7. Navigating Equity and Social Change (00:41:15)