Health Equity is Profitable—So Why Isn’t It a Priority?

At a time when medical advancements are soaring, one question remains: Who truly benefits? At BlackDoctor.org’s second annual “State of Black Health: What Now” Summit, a powerhouse panel tackled the urgent need for health equity, innovation, and access to life-saving treatments. Health business leaders made a compelling case: achieving health equity is not just a moral obligation—it’s a business imperative. The panel, “Health Equity is a Business Imperative,” was hosted by USA TODAY in collaboration with BlackDoctor.org (BDO) and moderated by Charisse Jones, USA TODAY’s money and consumer news editor.  Meet the Panelists Rashad Burgess, Gilead Sciences, VP of U.S. Advocacy & Health Equity Brandon Batiste, JPMorgan Chase’s Morgan Health, VP of Healthcare Innovation Shobha Dhadda, Eisai US, Chief Clinical Science & Operations Officer Key Themes Discussed 1. Health Equity is Good for Business & Society Leaders from Gilead Sciences, JPMorgan Chase’s Morgan Health, and Eisai US explored opportunities to advance health equity through HIV medicine innovation, digital health investments, and clinical trials. “We really have to lean into how health equity impacts business… really reframing it, it’s not about a social imperative, it is about a business imperative,” said Rashad Burgess of Gilead Sciences. Burgess emphasized that while many...