Advancing Advocacy Together - Advancing Health Equity & Justice through Partnership: Polices, Advocacy and Collective Action
Join us for a session featuring Carlene Pavlos, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA), a statewide organizing and advocacy organization focused on health equity and racial justice. MPHA works to build community power so that those who have historically been left out of policy making can have a voice in the decisions that shape their health and lives.
Our aim is to provide UMass Chan community members with information to support them in being confident and impactful advocates. By exploring MPHA’s work and collaborative opportunities, you will gain insights to push back against injustice in Massachusetts and in the country and to contribute to our individual and collective effort to build a fairer, healthier future for all. All are welcome!
Calendar
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Event Description
Hope in Challenging Times: The Power of Hope on Psychological Well-being and Resilience
Presented by Emily Padilla, PsyD, assistant professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences at UMass Chan.
As the culminating event of this year’s DEI Campus Read of Hope for Cynics, this keynote will explore the role of hope in sustaining well-being and resilience. In today’s sociopolitical climate, science, scientific inquiry and health care delivery have been challenged and negatively impacted through policy and funding cuts. As a result, health professionals, researchers and educators may experience heightened uncertainty, fear and stress, contributing to feelings of helplessness or burnout. On the other hand, research has long established the positive impacts of hope on psychological well-being and resilience.
This session will examine how cultivating hope can serve as a protective and restorative force in challenging times.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Event Description
Please join Melissa Anderson, PhD, MSCI, and Alexander Wilkins, PhD, MSCI; Co‑Directors of the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for an engaging session on the experiences of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) patients within our healthcare system.
Drawing from their Vital Signs program of research, they will explore how gaps in cultural humility and linguistic awareness can shape patient trust, influence provider attitudes and ultimately affect long‑term health outcomes. Participants will be invited to reflect on how centering DDBHH narratives can inform clinical training, strengthen provider–patient relationships, and foster healing environments that honor communication access and dignity, contributing to a more accessible and just healthcare experience for all. All are welcome!