Center for Health Equity opens

St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center opened its Center for Health Equity with a reception Jan. 14 at its headquarters at 140 Woodland St., Hartford. A $200,000 grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation will support the creation of a position to mentor and develop the skills of a health equity leader and expert in the area of health disparities, and to provide an in-depth understanding of the multiple factors that impact the health of African-American men in Hartford. African-American men in Hartford face socioeconomic challenges which correlate to poor health outcomes — often 4-5 times worse than the general population. The Center for Health Equity and the Curtis D. Robinson Men’s Health Institute recently relocated to The Urban League of Greater Hartford campus to better serve their target populations. Taking part in the opening activities are, from left, Adam Cloud, Hartford city treasurer; Shawn Wooden, president, city council; Mark McKinney, VP, Center for Health Equity at St. Francis; Curtis Robinson, founder, Curtis D. Robinson Men’s Health Institute; Christopher M. Dadlez, president and CEO, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center; Adrienne Cochrane, president and CEO, Urban League of Greater Hartford; Deacon Art Miller, Archdiocese of Hartford; Jennifer Cassidy, Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association; State Rep. Douglas McCory; Councilwoman Cynthia Jennings, and Crystal Clark, director, Connecticut Institute for Primary Care and Innovation at St. Francis.