Health leaders across Central Florida joined together on May 15 to make a more healthy and vibrant community. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello kicked off the workshop with an eye-opening and inspirational presentation noting the importance of a tri-county summit, bringing interdisciplinary, regional leaders together to find innovative solutions for the future. She is currently the Executive Director of Public Health Policy at Florida Hospital.
Community leaders in several disciplines including: health, economy, business, education, government, environment, public safety, and transportation were in attendance to carve out their role in the process of becoming a healthier community.
The presentations were followed with a interactive discussion, presenting groups of representatives from each discipline to the challenge of providing better transportation to healthcare facilities, increasing health literacy, combating food deserts, offering better access to seniors, and establishing better doctor-patient relationships.
Group discussions produced fascinating and inventive solutions including neighborhood markets and farmers markets in low income areas, new zoning patterns putting people, especially seniors in walking distance of groceries and health care, adding health infographics and information of health in public transportation and other marketing partnerships, changing school siting code to build new schools within neighborhoods.
The Florida Department of Health in Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties, Florida Hospital, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health System, and the Health Council of East Central Florida hosted the summit to explore the major health concerns impacting our area and how to combat these issues to enhance our community.
