The event, hosted by the Milken Institute’s Center for Public Health, gave students the chance to to work with leading organizations on current public health issues affecting our communities. Kaitlyn Camacho-Orona, Huy Nguyen, and Lydia Halie were chosen by the institute earlier this year to be Milken Institute Future Health Leaders. They joined nine other public health students from George Washington University, the University of Pittsburgh, and West Virginia University at the Summit.
The Future of Health Summit took place between October 22nd-24th. The twelve students were joined by administrators and deans from their respective schools and presented their ideas and recommendations for two community health projects at a private session. The projects focus on preventative strategies to health problems facing the United States. One project was for the Born This Way Foundation, a charity founded by entertainer Lady Gaga that is dedicated to supporting the wellness of young people. For this project, students were asked to create an intervention that would allow for a more supportive environment in high schools. The other project was for the Drug Enforcement Administration and focused on the agency’s 360 Strategy, which aims to bring together law enforcement, community members, and diversion partners to reduce drug trafficking.
In a private, invitation-only session, the Future Health Leaders from all four universities presented their project recommendations to the president of the Born This Way Foundation and the DEA’s Chief of Community Outreach, among others. While at the Summit, the students also attended presentations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank working to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs, and improve health.