About this session
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on communities of color, highlighting pervasive inequities in the U.S. African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans face nearly three times the risk of contracting coronavirus as whites, and African Americans are twice as likely to die. Elena Marks, president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, examines factors contributing to these disparities, including racism, poverty, and adverse community conditions and explains why the world’s most expensive health care system was not able to contain the pandemic. She shares a vision of a more just and effective health system that prioritizes health over health care with substantial, equitable investments in public health.
Accompanying slides can be found here: COVID-19 & Communities of Color Slide Deck
Elena Marks, J.D., M.P.H.,president and chief executive officer of the Episcopal Health Foundation and nonresident fellow in health policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
12:00 PM CT
Live Webinar
Elena Marks
Offered in partnership with
Presented By Elena Marks
Elena Marks, J.D., M.P.H., is the president and chief executive officer of the Episcopal Health Foundation and a nonresident fellow in health policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, where her work focuses on health reform and health equity. She serves on the boards of Grantmakers in Health, Harris Health System, and Community Health Choice. Her previous professional experience includes serving as the director of health and environmental policy for the City of Houston, consulting in the health care industry with large systems and community-based providers, starting and directing a successful legal placement firm, and practicing trial and appellate law with major Texas law firms. Ms. Marks holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University, a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law, and a Master of Public Health from The University of Texas School of Public Health.