Einstein's Nilda Soto Has Leadership Role with N.Y. State Minority Health Council
The New York State Senate confirmed Nilda I. Soto, assistant dean for diversity enhancement, as chair of the New York State Minority Health Council following her nomination by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Council members advise the New York State commissioner of health on healthcare issues that affect the lives of racial, ethnic and other underserved communities. The council’s main focus is raising awareness of health concerns among underserved populations, increasing engagement in local grassroots efforts, advocacy and research, and increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups working in health-related fields.
Nilda I. SotoMs. Soto, a Bronx native with a long history of engagement in community programs and professional organizations, has served on the council since 2007. She noted, “I’m pleased and humbled to be entrusted with the responsibility of this important public health role. And I’m excited to work with fellow council members to make our outreach efforts as comprehensive as possible, focusing not only on New York City, but looking at the entire state and representing a diverse population.”
She continued, “I believe my appointment is in part due to my 20-plus years at Einstein and my commitment to medical education. That experience will help inform me as I work with fellow council members to tackle the issues that concern the residents of our state.”
She related a poignant reminder of why the council’s efforts are critical: “A colleague working in Brooklyn told me about an exchange she’d had with a pregnant woman in her community. When asked whether she had been receiving prenatal care, the woman revealed that her greatest current concern was homelessness and finding a place for her baby to live. This kind of encounter provides a reality check about what’s important for us to consider in our efforts to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers.”
Council members recently conducted a “listening tour” in Buffalo, Rochester and Albany through which residents could voice their concerns about healthcare. “This grassroots effort helped us to learn that many had concerns about the delivery of women’s and adolescent healthcare,” said Ms. Soto.
In the past, the council’s work has included putting together obesity prevention policy recommendations, looking into perceived impediments to enrolling in the NYS healthcare exchange, highlighting the health concerns of Native Americans, gathering information on the continuity of care for formerly incarcerated individuals, and conducting a study to learn about underutilization of healthcare services.
In her new role, Ms. Soto will work with the Public Health and Health Planning Council to provide advice on health planning, healthcare financing and preservation, and improving public health. She will be in a position to advocate for better healthcare and more accessible services for all residents of New York, especially those in underserved communities.
“There are still obstacles we must overcome to address existing disparities,” she observed. “For example, our current healthcare workforce doesn’t aptly reflect the racial and ethnic composition of our state’s populace, and increasing the diversity among healthcare professionals is one strategy we can pursue to address the issue.”
Posted on: Friday, September 23, 2016