Press Releases
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Highmark Inc., Penn State Health, and World Affairs Council of Harrisburg (WACH) to Host “State of Black Health” Forum in Honor of Black History Month
Harrisburg, Pa. (February 1, 2023) — Highmark Inc., Penn State Health, and WACH announced today that they will co-host the 2023 Black History Month Forum: The State of Black Health on Thursday, February 16, at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
The forum will provide an in-depth look into health disparities facing the African American community with Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic, Highmark Blue Shield, and Dr. Geoffrey Roche, Harrisburg University, delivering the opening remarks addressing health equity and Black Health.
In the U.S., social factors, or Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age and can impact up to 80 percent of an individual’s health. Raising awareness and providing the minority population with health and wellness access and resources are critical factors in reducing preventable diseases, premature death, and disability that face the community.
Watch as Dr. Dominic further explains why health disparities matter.
Additional forum discussions led by area providers include:
- Top Issues Facing African American Men
- Top Issues Facing African American Women
- State of Mental Health in the African American Community
The forum will take place on Thursday, February 16, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Attendees can join the event in-person at Harrisburg University or virtually on Facebook Live by clicking here or visiting the WACH Facebook page.
About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Highmark Inc., doing business as Highmark Blue Shield, serves approximately 1.1 million members through the company’s health care benefits business and hundreds of thousands of additional individuals through the BlueCard® program. Highmark Blue Shield has significant commercial market share and strong Medicare Advantage membership [through certain of its affiliated Blue companies] as well. Through its affiliated Blue companies, all of Highmark's Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania achieved the highest possible quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - 5 out of a possible 5 Stars. Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
For more information, contact
Leilyn Perri
717-215-7835 (cell)
leilyn.perri@highmarkhealth.org
