Data Equity MD Convening: Championing Data Disaggregation for Health Equity
Presentations Overview
On Thursday, June 20th, community leaders, decision-makers, advocates, and state and local government leaders joined us at the Frederick Health Village for the Data Equity Maryland Convening. Hosted by the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County and funded by the admirable Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the convening was a great success. The Data Equity MD project could not be completed without their unwavering support. Each presentation provided invaluable insights and perspectives on the significance of data for various purposes, including in the collective impact model, for AI-driven disaggregation, achieving health equity, and counting all children in the decennial U.S. census. Each of these purposes’ advances data equity not only in Maryland but nationwide.
The event kicked off with Summer McClellan, Mental Health Workgroup Coordinator for the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County, who emphasized the critical importance of data disaggregation in addressing systemic inequities within Maryland. She highlighted the work of the Maryland State Data Disaggregation Workgroup, which is advocating for legislation and data disaggregation by developing materials to explain its impact on efforts to achieve health equity. Summer also introduced the Partnership Agreement Form created and disseminated by the workgroup, inviting community members to signify their support and dedication to the Data Equity MD (DEM) project.
Next, Dr. Rachel Mandel, MD MHA, Consultant and Community Advocate and member of the Data Driven Frederick Advisory Committee, delivered a compelling presentation on the critical use of data in the collective impact model. She emphasized the need for a common agenda in addressing disparities, advocating for a shared measurement system to measure success, and highlighted the significance of mutually reinforcing activities to achieve equity-oriented strategies. Dr. Mandel’s presentation focused on utilizing data disaggregation to pinpoint gaps and develop targeted interventions, particularly in identifying issues like the readiness of students entering kindergarten and the challenges faced by homeless students in Frederick County. She underscored the essential role of data in identifying issues and in focusing strategies and tracking progress towards creating a more inclusive community.
When asked how she incorporates the principles and strategies she discussed into her work, Dr. Mandel responded,
“When working on initiatives that tackle complex issues, it is imperative to understand the disaggregated data as well as the causes for the disparities in the data. This understanding inevitably leads you to specific strategies that can address the underlying root causes and by doing so produces solutions and plans that embrace equity. Without this approach, it is more difficult to make progress. This is hard work, but necessary work in order to achieve the goals we desire as a community.”
David Gurzick, Ph.D., Professor of Management Science and Director of the Data Driven Frederick Center , conducted a live demonstration on using AI tools to disaggregate data. Specifically, Dr. Gurzick utilized ChatGPT 4.0 to efficiently analyze and visualize disaggregated data, revealing patterns and insights that can inform deeper targeted interventions. With AI tools becoming our current reality and their projected uses becoming greater in our future, Dr. Gurzick emphasized that we can expect to witness more practices and uses as such gaining popularity.
Jordan Khoury, an intern with the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County, presented on how disaggregated data can be used as a tool to achieve health equity. Jordan explained that this type of data leads to more focused policy interventions that benefit underserved populations. By using a data-driven approach, policymakers can make well-informed decisions, distribute resources efficiently, and ensure that no community is left behind. Standards and accountability must be established to track progress and make necessary adjustments to promote a more inclusive community. For instance, in the Coalition’s work, we abstract data from our triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to determine the health priorities for the next three-year Local Health Improvement Plan (LHIP) cycle and architects the roadmap to bring that plan into action.
Joseph Battistelli, PMP, Director of Outreach & Membership at the Coalition on Human Needs, wrapped up the presentations by discussing the undercount of young children in the Census and what impact it has on our school systems, policies, and distribution of funds. Joseph highlighted the significant net undercount of children under 5 in the decennial Census and its impact on political representation, funding for key programs, and overall planning. Joseph called for innovative approaches to improve the accuracy of counting young children in future censuses, emphasizing the long-term positive impact on children’s lives and their communities.
Betsy Diehl, Vice President at Philanthropic Services at the Community Foundation of Frederick County, attended the convening and provided a valuable perspective on the application of data equity principals. When asked how the presentations could be applied to her work, she responded,
“The ability to effectively disaggregate data offers opportunities to enhance target philanthropy, something that is of critical importance to donors and funders. Having the assurance that valuable philanthropic resources are reaching the intended recipients and having the desired outcomes is at the heart of the work that we do; it’s exciting to consider innovative approaches such as leveraging data and AI to assist with this essential work for the benefit of our community.”
Collectively, these insightful presentations emphasized the essential role of data disaggregation in achieving data equity, illustrating how detailed, subgroup-specific data can uncover disparities, inform targeted interventions, and ultimately drive systemic change.
Learn More and Get Involved with Data Equity MD
The Data Equity MD website is a vital resource for those interested in supporting data disaggregation initiatives. There you can learn more about what data disaggregation is, why it matters, and recommendations the Maryland State Data Disaggregation Workgroup has outlined for taking action.
Are you interested in signifying your support to Data Equity MD? Sign the Partnership Agreement form here!
Take a close look at the letter to state and local representatives sent by the Workgroup to understand the call to action we are asking of our representatives.
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The Coalition’s Community Connections page provides a place to share news and events, offering a pathway for local action and public engagement. To subscribe to our weekly newsletter featuring community health updates, news, projects, and events, click here!
By Jordan Khoury