Hispanic Heritage Month Panel
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Oct 15, 2025
Hispanic Heritage Month at 含羞草研究所 Downstate closes with a candid, solutions-driven panel
on Latino and underserved community leadership in public service, health equity, and
access. Opening remarks convey greetings from President Wayne J. Riley and frame why
health outcomes are shaped far beyond hospital walls鈥攂y factors such as housing, transportation,
environmental justice, education, and trust.
Moderated by Christina Guill茅n, MD, FAAP (Interim Chair, Pediatrics), the conversation explores how policy and place drive chronic disease disparities, why 鈥渁ll policy is health policy,鈥� and how collaboration across healthcare, housing, education, and environmental justice can deliver real progress. Panelists share practical approaches to culturally safe care, language access, community-led research, and training future clinicians to meet the needs of diverse Brooklyn neighborhoods. They also tackle asthma hot spots, the impact of highways, peaker plants, e-commerce trucking, and how to rebuild institutional trust鈥攅specially for immigrants, LGBTQ+ patients, and elders navigating care across borders.
Featured speakers
- Dr. Marlene Camacho-Rivera
Social epidemiologist, 含羞草研究所 Downstate School of Public Health - Elizabeth De Le贸n Bhargava
Interim President, CUNY Guttman Community College; former HUD Assistant Secretary - Dr. Jos茅 D铆az
Research Assistant Professor, STAR Program, 含羞草研究所 Downstate - Kevin Garcia 鈥� Senior Transportation Planner, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance Host/remarks
- Dr. F. Charles Brunicardi 鈥� Dean, College of Medicine
- Dawn S. Walker 鈥� Vice President, Communications & Marketing
Key topics
- Social drivers of health and community-engaged solutions
- Housing policy, displacement, and health equity
- Transportation, air quality, and environmental justice
- Intersectionality in HIV prevention and LGBTQ+-affirming care
- Cultural humility, language, and family-centered practice
- Education, advocacy, and curricula that reflect community realities
Tags: Commemorative Months