Advancing Health, Cultivating Leaders and Collaborating on Community Solutions Summit
Thriving Together Summit 2025
On April 25, 2025, more than 125 community leaders, health professionals, and trainees gathered in Boston for the inaugural Thriving Together: Advancing Health, Cultivating Leaders, and Collaborating on Community Solutions Summit. Hosted by Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and People Power Health, the event marked the start of what we hope will grow into a lasting annual tradition.
The day was designed to spotlight and strengthen partnerships across clinical, academic, and community spaces—united by a shared goal of advancing health equity in the Greater Boston area.
Thriving Together Keynote Panel
Pictured left to right: David Shapiro (YMCA of Greater Boston), Robert Lewis, Jr. (Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston), Dr. Bisola Ojikutu (Boston Public Health Commission), Michael Curry (Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers), and Dr. Ann Hwang (Atrius Health Equity Foundation).
Highlights from the Day
- Over 40 health equity projects shared via lightning talks and poster sessions.
- Community-building workshops led by Sam Gonzalez and Stephanie Aines encouraged cross-sector collaboration.
- Three themed breakout sessions focused on research, partnerships, and practical solutions for lasting impact.
- Lightning Rounds highlighted five standout research submissions, curated by Jennifer Goldsmith, MS, MEd.
- Dr. Pablo Buitron de la Vega led a session exploring lasting success through partnership, featuring:
- BMC & Transformational Prison Project (Restorative Justice)
- Boston Combined Residency Program, Family Aid & Rian Center (ESOL Online Pilot)
- BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine & Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores
| Dr. Buitron de la Vega and Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores were also recipients of a 2024 BU CTSI Community Engagement Research Partnership Scholars Grant, a seed grant that supports meaningful collaboration between academic researchers and community organizations. Their participation in the Summit reflected the kind of long-term, equity-centered partnerships this grant is designed to foster. |
Recognizing Excellence in Equity
During the closing session, we proudly presented the inaugural Jenny Siegel Thriving Together Health Equity Champion Award, in recognition of Dr. Siegel’s enduring contributions to health equity and in celebration of two outstanding project teams:
- Mass Health Quality Partners and collaborators – for their work engaging Black patients and care teams to reduce healthcare mistrust.
- Natalie Baker and team – for Powering Change, a collaborative environmental justice initiative addressing air pollution in the Longwood Medical Area.
Looking Ahead
The Summit created space for connection, reflection, and bold vision. Key goals included:
- Showcasing local equity work across advocacy, research, education, and healthcare innovation
- Building lasting partnerships between community-based organizations and the next generation of healthcare leaders
- Supporting future changemakers through meaningful networking and funding opportunities
Let’s use our collective power to advance health and cultivate new leaders.
True change comes from non-hierarchical partnerships—not solutions created for communities, but with them.
We especially call on health professional trainees and early-career physicians: your voices, leadership, and relationships are essential to this work
We’re deeply grateful to the Thriving Together Steering Committee and every attendee who helped bring this vision to life. We look forward to continuing this important work—together—and are already planning for next year’s event.
Thriving Together Summit Planning Committee. Pictured left to right: Dr. Pablo Buitrón de la Vega, MD, MSc. Jennifer Goldsmith, MS, MEd. Dr. Sascha Murillo, MD. Dr. Sam Gonzalez, MD