Pfizer’s Multicultural Health Equity Collective (The Collective) partnered with BlackDoctor.org and the National Medical Association (NMA) to gather a robust group of healthcare leaders at the NMA’s 2025 National Colloquium on African American Health in Washington, D.C. This unique summit, “Pathways to a Healthier Future for All,” focused on pathways and solutions to our nation’s healthcare issues, emphasizing workforce development and the 340B drug pricing program.
Since 2014, The Collective has worked with 40+ nonprofit partners and advocates across the United States to help improve the health of historically underserved and underrepresented communities by addressing drivers of health inequities in healthcare, including systemic racism.
In partnership with NMA, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science and the National Minority Quality Forum, BDO and The Collective convened some of the brightest minds to help address pressing issues facing the care of all Americans, to over 85 intrigued attendees.
Niesha Foster, Pfizer’s Vice President of Global Health and Social Impact and Co-chair of The Collective, led us into the day’s summit with a strong call to action by pushing for greater opportunity among undersourced groups to be the change we seek.
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Workforce Pathways to a Healthier Future for All
Moderator:
- Melissa Bishop-Murphy, Senior Director, Government Relations, Pfizer, Founder & Co-chair of Pfizer’s Multicultural Health Equity Collective
Panelists:
- Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association (APHA)
- Virginia Caine, MD, President, National Medical Association
- Kathryn Schubert, MPP, CAE, President and CEO, Society for Women’s Health Research
- Jeanette Contreras, MPP, Executive Director, Organization for Latino Health Advocacy
The panel on workforce development highlighted the severe physician shortage facing the United States. Melissa Bishop-Murphy guided discussions and offered several insightful comments on how this shortage reduces care quality. The shortage stems from multiple factors, including static federal funding for residency programs.
According to Dr. Virginia Caine, nearly 4,000 doctors who graduate from medical school can’t get the necessary training to practice medicine due to reduced residency training.
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Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, emphasized the changing nature of healthcare delivery.
Janette Contreas, Founding Executive Director of the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy, highlighted barriers for first-generation medical students.
Shifting into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovations, the panelists offered insight into how both can help or harm patient outcomes, including Kathryn Schubert’s praise of telehealth for hard times and Dr. Caine and Contreas’s balanced view of AI algorithms to reduce bias.
340B Pathways to a Healthier Future for All
Moderator:
- Seth D. Ginsberg, Co-Founder & President, Global Healthy Living Foundation
Panelists:
- Dr. Sharon Allison-Ottey, MD, Health Strategist and Physician
- Thomas Johnson, Executive Director, ASAP 340B
- Gary Puckrein, PhD, President & CEO, National Minority Quality Forum
- Samantha Sears, Health Policy Associate, National Consumers League
The 340B Drug Pricing Program emerged as a central topic during the “Pathways to a Healthier Future for All” summit, with experts discussing its purpose, implementation challenges, and need for reform. The 340B program is a federal initiative established in 1992 under the George H. Bush administration that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs at significantly reduced prices to eligible healthcare organizations serving vulnerable populations.
Seth D. Ginsberg, Co-Founder and President of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, opened the panel with a reminder to be open-minded on the topic, while Dr. Sharon Allison-Ottey pointed out that many healthcare professionals aren’t fully aware of the program. Dr. Gary Puckrein of the National Minority Quality Forum offered a stark assessment, calling for an audit of 340B.
Thomas Johnson, representing ASAP 340B, explained that certain spending regarding 340B can be questionable and should be audited, while Samantha Sears from the National Consumers League advocated for reform.
Call to Action
Niesha Foster summarized key takeaways while calling for using data and patient stories to drive change, while Reggie Ware, CEO of BlackDoctor.org, emphasized the importance of leadership in addressing healthcare challenges.
Joy Calloway, Executive Director of the National Medical Association, highlighted concerning trends in healthcare diversity, stating that this summit can serve as a catalyst for action.
