Health Foundation of South Florida

Health Foundation of South Florida We invest in and are a catalyst for collaborations, policy and systems change that improves the health of South Florida communities.

We are proud to celebrate our President & CEO, Loreen Chant, who was honored with the prestigious Silver Medallion Awa...
05/23/2026

We are proud to celebrate our President & CEO, Loreen Chant, who was honored with the prestigious Silver Medallion Award, one of Miami's highest honors for civic leadership and community impact.

For more than 30 years, Loreen has dedicated her career to equity and opportunity, from improving kindergarten readiness rates at Easterseals South Florida, to closing college graduation gaps at Johnson & Wales University, to advancing health equity at the Health Foundation of South Florida. Across every institution she has led, one conviction has never wavered: that disparities are not inevitable, and that it is our collective responsibility to disrupt them.

This recognition belongs to every partner, colleague, and community leader who shows up every day to do this work alongside us. Real change is built through relationships, trust, and the willingness to bring people to the table who don't always sit together, and South Florida is fortunate to have so many people committed to doing exactly that.

Please join us in congratulating Loreen and all of the 2026 Mosaic Miami honorees, an extraordinary group of changemakers strengthening communities across Miami. We are so proud.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTaq5raG

She’s led healthcare from the inside. Now she’s helping us rethink it from the outside.Meet Dr. Michelle Kirwan, a board...
05/22/2026

She’s led healthcare from the inside. Now she’s helping us rethink it from the outside.

Meet Dr. Michelle Kirwan, a board-certified pediatrician and healthcare executive joining the “TikTok to Trust” panel at Black Health Summit 2026.

With over a decade of experience as the former Chief Medical Officer of a Federally Qualified Health Center, Dr. Kirwan has led the development, growth, and optimization of clinical services in some of the most underserved communities in the country. She knows firsthand what it takes to deliver quality care to populations that have historically been failed by the health system.

That experience gives her a uniquely grounded perspective on how digital platforms, including social media, can be harnessed or misused to shape health decisions in vulnerable populations. In an era where misinformation spreads faster than clinical guidance, her voice is exactly what this conversation needs.

She joins Calvin Hughes, Monica Elston Carter, and Dr. Michael Forde to examine how trust is being rebuilt, one post, one patient, and one community at a time.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center*, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

*The Charles F. Dodge City Center is located in Pembroke Pines, just minutes north of Miami Gardens and easily accessible via the Florida Turnpike and I-75.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

Data tells the story. Culture makes people listen. Dr. Michael Forde does both.We are excited to welcome Dr. Michael H. ...
05/21/2026

Data tells the story. Culture makes people listen. Dr. Michael Forde does both.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Michael H. Forde, DrPH, MSPH, a public health expert, storyteller, and nationally recognized leader in health equity, to the “TikTok to Trust” panel at Black Health Summit 2026.

For more than a decade, Dr. Forde has worked at the intersection of strategy, culture, and data, advancing initiatives that reduce health disparities, strengthen community trust, and expand access to care. His digital storytelling on Black health history and medical disparities has earned him a nationwide following and positioned him as one of the most compelling voices at the crossroads of public health and social media.

Dr. Forde understands something institutions are still learning: that trust is not built through systems alone — it’s built through stories, relationships, and showing up where communities already are. He brings that insight to a conversation about how social media can be a powerful force for health equity when wielded with intention and integrity.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

She’s in the exam room and in your feed, and she’s making a difference in both places.Meet Monica Elston Carter, MS, FNP...
05/20/2026

She’s in the exam room and in your feed, and she’s making a difference in both places.

Meet Monica Elston Carter, MS, FNP-BC, widely known as “Monica the NP”, an award-winning Family Nurse Practitioner, women’s health specialist, and one of the most recognized clinician voices in Black women’s health.

With over 15 years of experience, Monica practices full-time in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Washington, DC, with a powerful focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. She also holds an appointed position on the District of Columbia Perinatal Quality Collaborative, where she collaborates with healthcare leaders to improve maternal outcomes across the region.

But Monica’s reach extends far beyond the clinic. Through social media, she has built a community of patients, advocates, and fellow clinicians who trust her to translate complex health information into something real, accessible, and potentially life-saving. She is exactly the kind of voice the healthcare system needs more of.

She joins the “TikTok to Trust” panel at Black Health Summit 2026 to share how digital storytelling is reshaping health communication and rebuilding trust with Black communities.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center,* Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

*The Charles F. Dodge City Center is located in Pembroke Pines, just minutes north of Miami Gardens and easily accessible via the Florida Turnpike and I-75.

When the conversation matters, you want the right person holding the mic.We are proud to welcome .c.hughes , Anchor at W...
05/19/2026

When the conversation matters, you want the right person holding the mic.
We are proud to welcome .c.hughes , Anchor at WPLG Local 10, Miami’s ABC affiliate, as the moderator for “TikTok to Trust: How Social Media is Rebuilding Trust in Black Health” at Black Health Summit 2026.

A veteran broadcast journalist with decades of experience covering the stories that matter most to South Florida communities, Calvin brings editorial authority, a commanding presence, and deep community trust to a conversation that couldn’t be more timely.

How is social media reshaping the way Black communities access and trust health information? What can healthcare institutions learn from clinician influencers who have already earned the trust the system has historically lost? Calvin will guide this candid, high-stakes conversation with the same integrity he brings to the newsroom every day.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center*, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission
*The Charles F. Dodge City Center is located in Pembroke Pines, just minutes north of Miami Gardens and easily accessible via the Florida Turnpike and I-75.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

What happens when you invest in young people early, deeply, and consistently? You change everything.At Black Health Summ...
05/18/2026

What happens when you invest in young people early, deeply, and consistently? You change everything.

At Black Health Summit 2026, the "Beyond the Clinic: Sport, Music, and Economic Empowerment as a Black Youth Health Strategy" panel will explore one of the most important questions in health equity: how do we shape the health and well-being of Black youth before the healthcare system ever has to intervene?

From soccer fields to recording studios to the classroom, this panel brings together leaders who have found unconventional — and remarkably effective — pathways to reach young people where they are, build trust, and create lasting change.

Moderated by Matthew Anderson, Executive Director of Mosaic Miami, with panelists:

Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation — whose evidence-based Soccer for Success program uses sport as a vehicle for health, mentorship, and social-emotional development in under-resourced communities. His Safe Places to Play initiative has transformed hundreds of urban neighborhoods, one mini-pitch at a time.

Tiffany Lusan, Program Director, Guitars Over Guns — who pairs at-risk middle schoolers with professional musician-mentors, using songwriting and performance to improve school attendance, build trusted adult relationships, and give young people a creative path forward.

Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida — whose organization reaches 80,000 young people each year with programs that prepare them for lives of purpose, possibility, and economic opportunity.

Sport. Music. Economic empowerment. Three very different entry points. One shared belief: that every young person deserves a champion, a safe space, and a future worth fighting for.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

Strategy without community is just a plan. Community without strategy is just effort. This panel is where the two meet.A...
05/15/2026

Strategy without community is just a plan. Community without strategy is just effort. This panel is where the two meet.

At Black Health Summit 2026, the "Lessons from the Field: Advancing Black Health Equity in South Florida" panel brings together the leaders doing the hard, essential work of advancing health equity in South Florida's Black communities, every single day.

This is the living proof of what becomes possible when investment, trust, and partnership keep showing up, Summit after Summit, year after year.

Moderated by Janisse Schoepp, Chief Strategy Officer, HFSF, with panelists:

Commissioner Melissa P. Dunn, MBA – City of Laudershill
Dr. Armen Henderson, MD, MBA — Dade County Street Response
Katherine Chung, MD, MPH — Health Choice Network
Catherine Toms, MD, MPH — Green Cars 4 Kids

Don't miss it.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

Register: eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

What if the future of healthcare was built with communities, not just for them?Too often, healthcare systems are designe...
05/14/2026

What if the future of healthcare was built with communities, not just for them?

Too often, healthcare systems are designed around what’s efficient for institutions, not what’s accessible, trusted, or equitable for the people they serve. At the Health Foundation’s Black Health Summit 2026, one of our most anticipated sessions will challenge that model head-on.

“Informed and Engaged: Reimagining the Future of Healthcare” is an in-depth conversation featuring Dr. O’Neil J. Pyke, MD, MBA, SFHM, Chief Medical Officer at Jackson North Medical Center and part of Jackson Health System, one of the nation’s largest public health systems. In a candid, one-on-one fireside chat format, Dr. Pyke will share his perspective on what it truly takes to build healthcare systems that are responsive, accessible, and equitable for Black communities in South Florida and beyond.

The conversation will explore questions like:

• How do we rebuild a healthcare system that Black patients actually trust?
• What does genuine provider engagement look like in communities that have historically been underserved?
• How can community partnerships drive the kind of systemic transformation that policy alone cannot?

Health equity isn’t just a goal, it’s a design challenge. Join us for this conversation about what it takes to build a system that truly works for everyone.

Moderator: To be announced — stay tuned!

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center*, Pembroke Pines | Free Admission

*The Charles F. Dodge City Center is located in Pembroke Pines, just minutes north of Miami Gardens and easily accessible via the Florida Turnpike and I-75.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

From TikTok to Trust: How Social Media is Rebuilding Black Health. The relationship between Black communities and the Am...
05/13/2026

From TikTok to Trust: How Social Media is Rebuilding Black Health.

The relationship between Black communities and the American health system has been shaped by centuries of harm, neglect, and broken trust. Today, a new generation of clinicians, public health professionals, and digital storytellers is meeting people where they are, on their phones and in their feeds, to reclaim that trust one post at a time.

At the Health Foundation’s Black Health Summit 2026, this powerful panel will examine how social media and digital storytelling are reshaping health communication, combating misinformation, and rebuilding the bridges between healthcare systems and Black communities.

Moderated by Hughes, Anchor at WPLG Local 10 Miami, with panelists:

• Monica Elston Carter, FNP-BC (“Monica the NP”) — Award-winning Family Nurse Practitioner & women’s health specialist
• Dr. Michael H. Forde, DrPH, MSPH — Public health expert & nationally recognized health equity leader
• Dr. Michelle Kirwan — Board-certified pediatrician & healthcare executive, former CMO of a Federally Qualified Health Center

What can institutions learn from clinician influencers who have already earned the trust that the healthcare system has historically lost? Join us for this conversation.

June 16, 2026 | Charles F. Dodge City Center,* Pembroke Pines, FL | Free Admission

*The Charles F. Dodge City Center is located in Pembroke Pines, just minutes north of Miami Gardens and easily accessible via the Florida Turnpike and I-75.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

A healthier, more equitable future takes intentional collaboration and shared purpose.Join us for Black Health Summit 20...
05/12/2026

A healthier, more equitable future takes intentional collaboration and shared purpose.

Join us for Black Health Summit 2026, hosted by the Health Foundation of South Florida, a powerful half-day gathering focused on advancing health equity and improving well-being across South Florida’s Black communities.

This year’s Summit will feature keynote speaker Dr. Roger Mitchell, Jr., MD, President of the National Medical Association, who will frame the national context for Black health equity around three central themes guiding the day’s discussions:

-rebuilding trust in healthcare,
-ensuring accurate and culturally relevant health information reaches our communities,
-and inspiring the next generation of leaders and advocates

June 16, 2026
Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines, FL*
8:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Free admission (light breakfast and lunch provided)

This is more than a gathering; it’s a call to action to build healthier communities across our region.

Reserve your seat: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-health-summit-2026-tickets-1979229538830

Strong ideas turned into meaningful dialogue last week at the Florida Healthcare Innovation Summit ( ) in Miami. The Hea...
05/07/2026

Strong ideas turned into meaningful dialogue last week at the Florida Healthcare Innovation Summit ( ) in Miami. The Health Foundation of South Florida was honored to have our President & CEO, Loreen Chant, and Board Chair, Barbara Fonte, participate in a powerful dialogue on how collaborative leadership is shaping the future of healthcare across our state.

This is exactly the work we live every day, turning vision into collective impact for the communities we serve.

The conversation centered on what it truly takes to work across organizations in today’s complex healthcare landscape, from aligning incentives to building trust and accountability that extends beyond intention.

Bringing together more than 40 speakers, the Summit created space for leaders across sectors to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare across Florida and the Southeast, including workforce pressures, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of data and AI.

Moments like these reinforce an important truth: lasting progress is built through coordinated effort, not isolated action. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this dialogue and to continue working alongside partners committed to improving health and well-being across our communities.

Thank you to the organizers who made this summit possible. The energy, innovation, and commitment to health equity give us reason to be optimistic about the road ahead.

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Miami, FL
33131

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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