Broadening the Definition of Health

As a culmination of our Spring semester, students from three MSW courses are collaborating to bring together a community-wide event around broadening the definition of health and discussing access to equitable health resources, with a core theme that health is a human right.

There will be a panel discussion approximately 45 minutes in length where each panelist will take a few minutes to introduce themselves and describe their work/thoughts around health. The remainder of this time will be spent engaging in an open discussion/conversation with the audience. Confirmed panelists include:

• Joe Brannigan - Senator from District 9 (Portland, Westbrook); former executive director of Shalom House; licensed social worker
• Anne Graham PNP - Representative from District 109 (North Yarmouth, Gray, Pownal), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Portland School Based Health Clinics
• Robyn Merrill MSW, JD - Policy Analyst at Maine Equal Justice Partners 
• Stephanie Hatzenbuehler MSW - She is currently conducting research around the social determinants of health

Following the panel discussion, there will be small group conversations around what the next steps could/should be to fulfill the vision of health as a human right. There will be informational tables set up, so you will also have the opportunity to see what local and statewide organizations are doing around the issue of health.