Fifth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium
January 29, 2026Categories: Events
The 5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium was held on January 19 across all Trinity Health Of New England ministries. The event brought together colleagues from Saint Mary’s Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, and Johnson Memorial Hospital for a systemwide watch party.
Saint Mary's Hospital colleagues participated in Trinity Health's nationwide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium watch party.
This year’s theme, “The Dream In Practice,” focused on translating Dr. King’s vision into meaningful action within health care. The event featured a virtual panel hosted by LaRonda Haller, Senior Vice President of Health Equity and Human Impact at Trinity Health. Panelists included David Thoms, Lead Community Health Worker at Mount Carmel Health System; Lanie Dixon, Executive Director of Patient Experience at Atlantic Health; and Dr. Sharon O’Leary, Chief Health Equity Officer for Trinity Health Michigan.
Dr. Ala Stanford, Founder of the Black Doctors Consortium and the Center for Health Equity, served as the keynote speaker and emphasized the importance of advancing equitable care through intentional, community-centered practices. Throughout the symposium, speakers reinforced that equity must be a core requirement within healthcare, not a separate initiative. LaRonda Haller highlighted the importance of open dialogue in driving progress, noting, “We never know the things we share if we don’t talk.”
Saint Francis Hospital colleagues participated in the systemwide watch party.
Mount Sinai colleagues participated in the Health Equity Symposium watch party.
Saint Mary's Hospital leadership participated in the systemwide watch party.
Colleagues gathered at Johnson Memorial to participate in the symposium.
Mercy colleagues at the watch party in Springfield.