Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health
- Overview
- Meet the Team
- Community Partnership
- Innovation Hub
- Research
Changing Children’s Health, Locally and Globally
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s was created to provide leadership, build community partnerships and create innovative programs to improve children's health and lives by advancing health equity.
Nemours has long-established collaborations with schools, local agencies and community organizations to support health initiatives such as nutrition, physical activity and literacy. The Ginsburg Institute strives to create a world where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential for health and well-being. We build community partnerships, translate research into practice and create opportunities for innovative solutions.
A "Singular Moment" for Children's Health
Share the beginning of our journey when we announced the founding of the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity in 2022.
A Strategic Roadmap to Advancing Child Health Equity
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity was established with a generous gift from the Ginsburg Family Foundation. It will catalyze change by discovering and testing innovative child health equity strategies and promoting the effective ones. We partner with communities to ensure every child across Central Florida has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.
How It Works
The Ginsburg Institute is a truly collaborative effort. It brings together a team of world-renowned pediatric specialists, behavioral economists, health services researchers, environmental health experts and academic experts who specialize in interpreting data.
Together, we will:
- Identify and remove barriers to health in medically underserved areas.
- Collaborate to design and implement innovative projects to enhance population health.
- Prepare a health care and scientific workforce to deploy resources into diverse communities, both locally and around the world.
- Share research and policy findings locally, nationally and internationally to address underlying social determinants of health.
“We know that 80% of a child's health happens outside of the health care system, and we are committed to going well beyond medicine to change children's lives through innovative programs and community partnerships.”
Nancy Molello, MSB, Executive Director
Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours.
Ginsburg Scholars: Today's Research, Tomorrow's Leaders
We're committed to training the next generation of health equity leaders through the Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars.
- Ginsburg Scholars Mentorship Program
- Ginsburg Scholars Grant Program
Media
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours partnered with community group 4Roots and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, Jacqueline Bradley and Clarence Otis Family Branch, to plant a community garden in the West Lakes neighborhood in Orlando.
This initiative marks the first community grant from the Ginsburg Institute, amplifying our commitment to improving children's health and lives by advancing health equity.
WFTV Orlando
May 30, 2024
Community Garden to Provide Fresh Produce to Underserved People in Orlando
West Orlando News
June 2, 2024
Sustainable Community Garden to Provide Fresh, Healthy Food for Underserved Orlando Kids, Families
Social Media
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health welcomes the 2024-2025 Ginsburg Scholars!
LinkedIn
June 2024
Nemours Health Equity Well Beyond Medicine
The Ginsburg Institute team at Nemours Children’s Health at the AHA Heath Conference.
LinkedIn
May 2024
Nancy Edwards Molello: The Ginsburg Institute Team from Nemours Activity
Podcast: Medical Care (and More) That Goes Well Beyond Medicine
On air now!
Episode 63 — Ginsburg Institute: Equalizing Health — Well Beyond Medicine Podcast
Episode 64 — Ginsburg Scholars: The Future of Health Equity — Well Beyond Medicine Podcast
These episodes contain conversations with Nancy Molello, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity; Marc McMurrin, President & CEO, Ginsburg Family Foundation, Inc. and Brianna Karim, Ginsburg Scholar, about the mission and vision of the Institute, community partnerships and the Ginsburg Scholars program.
Join Us and Support Children's Health Equity
Children's health equity is a collective effort.
- Attend the symposium.
- Become a community partner.
- Make a contribution on our giving page by selecting "Health Equity" from the drop-down menu to direct your support.
Dr. Kara Odom Walker MD. MPH, MSHS
Nemours Children's Health EVP and Chief Population Health Officer
Nancy Molello, MSB
Executive Director
Nancy Molello serves as the executive director of the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s. She brings more than 20 years of progressive experience in developing community and global partnerships, building research health equity programs, and creating pipeline programs for students interested in pursuing medicine and public health careers.
At Nemours, Molello brings her breadth and depth of experience as a leader to develop initiatives with the goal of improving the health and well-being of children in Central Florida.
Prior to joining Nemours, Molello was the program director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity and the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, fundraising, program development, community engagement and managing the overall budget of $35 million. In addition, Molello was the operational leader for the center’s Community Advisory Board with representatives from the public and private sectors, political leadership, provider system leadership and staff, community leaders and patients.
Molello is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, New York, and she earned a Master of Science in Business (MSB) from Johns Hopkins University.
Stephanie Avila
Executive Assistant
Stephanie Avila is a seasoned professional dedicated to providing executive support to Nancy Molello and the Ginsburg Institute team. With over 20 years of experience spanning diverse industries such as media, architecture, consulting and banking, Avila has consistently demonstrated her expertise in event planning and project coordination.
Prior to joining Nemours, Avila collaborated with CEOs and C-suite executives, utilizing her skills to positively impact organizational goals through execution-focused strategies. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the successful execution of several events, where her meticulous project management played a pivotal role.
Avila is known for her exceptional interpersonal skills, and has built lasting relationships with high-profile individuals, contributing to the overall success of the teams she supports. Her dedication, coupled with a keen eye for detail and strategic thinking, positions Avila as a reliable and results-driven professional in the realm of executive support and event management.
Claudia Tejada
Program Manager
Claudia Tejada is responsible for developing plans for achieving long and short-term goals for events, programs and projects for the institute. She oversees the administration and monitoring of multiple programs, including the Ginsburg Institute Scholars Program and various grant initiatives.
Claudia's professional background is built on equity-centric work in pediatric practices, an international medical center and a cancer clinical research facility, where she developed an interest in increasing minority participation in clinical trials. Her work in public health, ranging from One Health clinic services to veteran health outreach, is fueled by the drive to always progress.
Claudia earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of South Florida and is a credentialed (Certified in Public Health) public health practitioner.
Fednise Frederique, MHA
Program Coordinator
Fednise Frederique assists in the planning and project management of the Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program. This includes tracking program performance, promoting team collaboration among the scholars and identifying networking opportunities.
Prior to joining Nemours, Frederique served as an intake coordinator for Mission Control at AdventHealth Orlando. Her responsibilities included creating patient accounts for surgery, communicating with EMS to facilitate transfers and contacting on-call physicians for emergency cases.
Frederique earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in public and global health from Florida Atlantic University. She also holds a master’s in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Central Florida.
Brianna Karim
Program Coordinator
Brianna Karim coordinates the development of the Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program. She is also a Ginsburg Scholar herself, and contributes to behavioral health research endeavors at Nemours. As a program coordinator, Karim assists with developing research opportunities, creating grant programs, and discovering possible partnerships with the Central Florida community.
Before joining Nemours, Karim was a clinical research coordinator for the Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. In this role, she coordinated several research projects on adolescent health and well-being. Karim has supported the development of numerous research projects which have been presented at national conferences and published in esteemed journals.
Karim received her Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in sociology at the University of Florida.
Ginsburg Community Advisory Board
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is dedicated to advancing child health equity in central Florida. Comprised of passionate community members, the board serves as a strategic advisory body, offering guidance, sharing experiences and articulating community perspectives. By optimizing collective impact, the board actively contributes to setting effective strategies, recommending key partnerships and sharing valuable lessons learned for the benefit of the community.
Our Community Advisory Board
We’ve gathered individuals representing all sectors of the community for the composition of our Community Advisory Board. From charitable organizations and foundations to universities and churches, the list includes CEOs, pastors and community engagement officers. See the accompanying PDF for the complete list.
Community Partnerships to Create Equity Impact
Pediatric care at Nemours Children’s goes well beyond medicine. By treating the root causes of illness and health disparities, we can improve the lives of children everywhere, and help them achieve their full potential.
In a unique collaboration, 4Roots, an innovative agricultural organization committed to sustainable farming practices, has joined forces with the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours. The Ginsburg scholars, known for their dedication to advancing health equity, will be volunteering at the 4Roots farm, bridging the gap between agriculture and health care as they work together towards shared goals of community well-being and sustainable living. This partnership not only exemplifies the convergence of diverse expertise, but also highlights the transformative potential when agriculture and health initiatives collaborate for a more holistic approach to community development. This is a solid foundation for future work and academic collaborations, and there's so much more to come.
Ginsburg Team in action at the 4Roots Farm Campus
Health Equity Community Partnership Initiatives
Ginsburg Summer Camp Experience Program for Nemours Associates
During the summer of 2023, the Ginsburg Institute piloted the Ginsburg Summer Experience Program, an innovative strategy to increase access to summertime experiences of the children of Nemours associates.
This program actualizes the “health equity begins at home” concept by sponsoring summer camps for school-age children of associates meeting income-based criteria. The program focuses on Nemours role as an employer and health anchor institution in Central Florida and aligns with our health anchor strategy for the region. Health anchors are health care organizations permanently rooted in their communities as Nemours is in Central Florida
We are pleased to extend the program in 2024. For additional information, read about the Ginsburg Institute Summer 2024 Summer Camp Experience. First, we will work to improve child health equity within our walls before going “beyond.”
Ginsburg Institute Community-Based Grants
Garden-to-Table Experience: Culinary Education for Nutritional Security
The Ginsburg Institute is proud to announce the awarding of our first Community-Based Grant to 4Roots and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. This grant will support the establishment of a sustainable community garden at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Bradley-Otis Clubhouse. The initiative aims to provide a reliable source of fresh produce to an at-risk community, fostering better nutrition and healthier lifestyles. Through this collaboration, we seek to empower the community with resources and education about sustainable gardening practices, contributing to long-term food security and well-being.
Millennia Gardens Elementary School Eco Club 2024 Summer Program
In partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, the Ginsburg Institute of Health Equity is proud to support the Millennia Gardens Elementary School Eco Club 2024 Summer Program. The Millennia Gardens Eco Club offers students opportunities to participate in innovative, fun agricultural projects such as establishing a hydroponic garden, building oyster reef mats and building bat houses. The skills developed in the gardens translate to the classroom — in the 2023–2024 school year, Eco Club students increased on-grade level proficiency higher than the state, district and school in all grade levels for Math and English/Language Arts in the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) test.
Supporting the Community Health Centers Workforce
An innovative workforce development initiative, The Medical Assistant Education Program, led by Community Health Centers, Inc. (CHC), aims to address the workforce shortage in Central Florida, particularly within underserved communities. A partnership with St. Petersburg College offers a 12-week hybrid Medical Assistant (MA) program to current CHC employees, empowering them to obtain certification and skills necessary for advancement. The initiative not only addresses staffing shortages, but also promotes health equity by increasing employment opportunities within underserved communities designated as Medically Underserved Areas. Through collaboration with the Ginsburg Institute, this program aims to strengthen the health care workforce and support future activities promoting health equity in Central Florida.
Sources of Strength
The Ginsburg Institute is proud to support Sources of Strength at Lake Nona Middle School in Lake Nona, Florida. This evidence-based youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program harnesses the power of peer social networks to create healthy norms and culture. Additionally, our support will offer regional training to expand the program to more schools in the area and allow four of our associates to become certified as regional trainers.
Peace and Justice Institute
This year, the Ginsburg Institute provided scholarships for 8 Seminole County Public School staff to attend the Peace and Justice Institute Summer Academy, a week-long intensive program for educational professionals designed to increase expertise in resilience, reflective practice, trauma responsive practices, empathy, bias and mindfulness. This immersive cohort-based program supports professionals with an eye to deepening equity in their hearts, minds and community.
We Get There Together
To achieve health equity, we must leverage collective wisdom. This includes learning about current programs, and working together to identify gaps that need to be addressed. Whether you're a parent, a patient or a possible connector in the private or nonprofit sectors — ideas and issues are important, and we're eager to hear what our communities have to say.
Experts Gather to Innovate: The Annual Child Health Equity Symposium
As an innovation hub, the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity is more than just a dedicated place and team. The Ginsburg Institute is action oriented, informed by expertise from across Nemours Children's and the lived experience of the Central Florida community.
And while research, academic, community and collaboration efforts are active all year, the annual Child Health Equity Symposium convenes stakeholders and experts in pediatric health to advance research and practice. Our goal is to create connections that effect positive change and improve health outcomes to develop, implement and disseminate employer best practices in health equity.
Save the Date | October 2, 2024: Child Health Equity Symposium in Orlando
Let's continue to ideate, innovate and work together to ensure health equity for every child. We are taking our symposium to new heights, and we will convene to delve deeper into the concept of Thriving Communities, Thriving Youth.
Our Keynote speaker will be Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, a Physician and Professor at City College of New York, and former 43rd Health Commissioner of New York City. Dr. Chokshi’s bold leadership and commitment to integrating health care and public health will energize us as we consider what it looks like for Orlando to be a Thriving Community with Thriving Youth.
Additional details and formal invitations will follow in the coming months.
Inaugural Child Health Equity Symposium: November 2023
With a shared goal of eliminating health disparities, more than 100 individuals from a diverse range of organizations — including health care providers, educators, business leaders, policymakers and community advocates — came together in Orlando to address the critical issue of health equity.
We at Nemours are truly fortunate to have the support of the Central Florida community and the Ginsburg Family Foundation in this endeavor. Together, we are forging sustainable change, beyond medicine, for the future of our children.
2023 Child Health Equity Symposium
Take a look at this recap of the inaugural Child Health Equity Symposium presented by the Ginsburg Institute at Nemours. The event was held November 2, 2023.
2023 Symposium: By the Numbers
110
Total participants from community leaders and Nemours.
50
Unique community organizations in attendance.
5
Community sectors engaged, including business, education and local government leaders.
4
Workgroups identified to reconvene and advance the priorities and strategies shared.
Key Highlights
Opportunity to transform the definition of children's health and align efforts across the community.
Call to action to reduce barriers and bridge the gap in our community in children's health disparities.
Invest in employee health; healthy parents can create healthy kids.
Opportunity for the Ginsburg Institute to become the convenor of resources and organizations that can achieve health equity for children.
Build a community of health equity champions.
“I believe that together, we can achieve health equity for children through the power of cross-sector collaboration.”
– Dr. Tony Iton's keynote address
“I was beyond impressed and excited to see all the wonderful leaders come together ... for the benefit of improving a child’s overall health and wellbeing.”
– Jamie Merrill, President & CEO,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
“I'm excited that we have organizations like this and the Ginsburg Institute putting the power and their resources to bring us together.”
– Marni Stahlman, President & CEO, Mental Health Association of Central Florida
- Dr. Tony Iton
- Jamie Merrill
- Marni Stahlman
Scholars Programs and Research Lead to Change for All Children
Research and research translation is a critical part of the Ginsburg Institute’s mission. Through these efforts, we will transform pediatric health care by sharing what we learn with the world to better children’s lives and improve health equity for kids.
At Nemours Children's, we're also dedicated to training the next generation of health equity leaders. Our comprehensive Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program actively supports promising researchers by helping them design and implement innovative projects aimed at enhancing population health across diverse communities. The primary goal of the Ginsburg Scholars Mentorship Program is connecting enthusiastic knowledge seekers with experienced medical professionals who can guide them along their journey, providing invaluable insights and expertise along the way.
Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program
The Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program is a unique 12-month paid mentorship opportunity for recent graduates who plan to pursue a career in health care. Through a careful matching process, each scholar is partnered with an experienced medical professional who shares similar goals and interests. Scholars work closely with their mentors on research projects focused on addressing and eliminating health care disparities within central Florida. It is through these partnerships that fellows acquire and improve skills such as communication, leadership, setting goals and project management.
How It Works
Mentors and scholars are in constant communication, whether through email or biweekly mentoring sessions. These sessions don’t solely revolve around project updates, but here mentors and scholars get to form connections. Mentors provide guidance and knowledge that encourages professional development, and scholars apply what they have learned to their career aspirations.
Past scholars have a diverse educational background, with each scholar wanting to explore and pursue different career options within the medical field. Some have started their journey towards applying to medical school, and some have already been accepted into graduate programs.
During this program, scholars can network through connections they have made in the field of research and through relationships they have created with their mentors. With the work they have contributed to the mobile health clinic, 4Roots Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank, they have also formed connections within the Central Florida community.
This program is not only beneficial for the scholars, but it also serves as an opportunity for the mentor to develop their own leadership skills and give back to their professional community. Our mentors have an extensive amount of experience within the field of health care, and they delight in the fact that they can positively influence others. They are also able to see their organization through the perspective of the scholars. Scholars expose them to different thoughts and opinions. During that time, scholars are gathering information that they have acquired during research and mentoring sessions for their own medical journey.
Aribah Ali
Aribah assists her mentor in data collection and analysis to develop a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). She collaborates with stakeholders and conducts thematic reviews to understand the health needs of the communities we serve. Aribah also works with a developmental behavioral pediatrician to enhance children’s emotional literacy and conduct parent management trainings for children diagnosed with ADHD.
Aribah earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences at the University of Florida. She aspires to become a future physician and will be applying to medical school next year.
Viola Mrruku
Viola works alongside her mentor conducting research in culinary medicine by teaching kids the importance of healthy eating, through growing and cooking their own food. She also works with a doctor whose research focus is on coming up with a curriculum for teaching cultural humility within faculty.
Viola graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in Spanish. She is applying to medical school and is excited on following the next paths to become a future physician.
Alejandro Ramirez
Alejandro works with his mentor coordinating and managing the Nemours Residents Program that is responsible for sponsoring and developing various resident research projects. He is also active in research involving childhood asthma, seeking to educate children on signs and symptoms of asthma attacks so they can identify early warning signs.
Alejandro graduated with cum laude distinction from the University of Florida earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He is currently in the process of applying to medical school with interests in the field of pediatrics.
Treasure Ray
Treasure works with her mentor, Dr. Cedric Pritchett — co-director of the Nemours Children Ear, Hearing and Communication Center and medical director of the Cochlear Implant Program, to address and understand barriers to care for pediatric cochlear implant recipients. Moreover, Treasure assists Dr. Pritchett and his team on a point-of-care assay for cytomegalovirus (CMV) identification, given the significant contribution of CMV in pediatric patients with hearing loss.
Treasure graduated cum laude, receiving her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Florida; she also earned minors in leadership and health disparities in society. Treasure is currently preparing to apply medical school to pursue her lifelong goal of becoming a physician.
Past Scholars
The Ginsburg Institute launched its first cohort of scholars May 2023. These scholars graduated May 2024 and will continue with careers as physicians, public health experts and researchers. They will help to address the critical need for a diverse workforce uniquely trained to alleviate health disparities among children in Central Florida. As more Ginsburg Scholars go through the program, the pathways to careers in health care for underserved youth will become stronger and Central Florida will be a healthier, more equitable region.
The 2023 scholars worked on the following research projects with their mentors:
- Uncovering the impact of nutrition on health and disease
- Providing parents with skills and tools to better care for children with ADHD
- Supporting Nemours Children’s Clinic on Wheels mobile health program providing free immunizations and care
- Better understanding and treating adolescent eating disorders
- Better understanding and treating childhood asthma and eczema
Ginsburg Institute Medical Student Summer Research Program
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity has launched a Medical Student Summer Research Program for rising second-year medical students at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine (UCF COM). For the summer of 2024, the Ginsburg Institute is supporting UCF COM medical student, Rushi Vekariya, to investigate health disparities in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea care. Rushi is being mentored by Dr. Adele K. Evans, the chief of pediatric otolaryngology at Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida.
Rushi Vekariya
Rushi is a rising second-year medical student at the UCF College of Medicine, aspiring to become a future otolaryngologist. He is collaborating with his physician mentor to investigate health disparities in the diagnosis and outcomes of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. He is also pursuing other projects, including the impact of a temporal bone laboratory on the learning outcomes of medical students and the management of pediatric acute mastoiditis in the post-COVID-19 era.
At UCF, Rushi serves as a class representative and holds leadership positions in the ENT Interest Group, the Health Innovations Group and the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group. He also enjoys volunteering for the student-run KNIGHTS Clinic, in which he serves as the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) director.
Mentors
-
Lisa Santos Spector, MD
Developmental Medicine Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician Behavioral Health Hub Co-DirectorPrimary Office
Orlando, FL
Ginsburg Resident and Fellow Health Equity Research Grant Program
The resident and fellow grant program is an award that supports pediatric residents and fellows at Nemours to develop innovative models and pilot programs aimed at addressing the social needs of the patients, families and communities we serve. Applications Open Spring 2025.
How It Works
- The grant program will fund up to five (5) applications each year to conduct research in partnership with our Central Florida community.
- Successful proposals will consist of traditional research, implementation science, community-based participatory research and new models to look at and address the impact of social determinants of health in vulnerable populations. Grants can be used to find the creation of a new community project or to develop quality initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposal.
- The Review Committee will evaluate the project’s significance, innovation, feasibility, creativity and quality of methods in the context of its potential to advance health equity.
Each funded resident and fellow will be working with a faculty mentor at Nemours. Residents and fellows will have an opportunity to present their research as posters at the annual Child Health Equity Symposium presented by the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity.
Building capacity to support faculty, residents and fellows for research is directly aligned with our Clinical Preeminence strategy and on track with our vision to create the healthiest generations of children.
Apply for Ginsburg Resident and Fellow Grant Program
Our Awardees
2023
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity selected its first recipient in October 2023.
Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida pediatric resident, Urdur Jonsdottir, MD, an aspiring allergist and immunologist, was selected as the first recipient of the Health Equity Residency and Fellowship grant for her project, “Identifying and Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis in Central Florida.”
2024
The Institute selected two projects for the Spring 2024 cycle.
Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida pediatric residents, Marisse Padron, MD and Taylor Rasmussen, MD, were selected as recipients of the Health Equity Residency and Fellowship grant for their project, “A STEP UP Above the Rest: Teaching Strategies and Tools to Empower Parents Using Positivity (STEP UP) Within Their Community.”
Dr. Caren Ishikawa was selected as a recipient of the Health Equity Residency and Fellowship grant for her project, “Improving Reach Out and Read Books Distribution for Well Child Visits by Residents and Program Expansion at the Nemours Children’s Downtown Continuity Clinic.”
Marisse Padron, MD
Dr. Marisse Padron’s areas of interest include general pediatrics, complex care and developmental pediatrics.
Taylor Rasmussen, MD
Dr. Taylor Rasmussen is interested in developmental and behavioral pediatrics and private care practice.
Caren Ishikawa, MD
Dr. Caren Ishikawa’s main interests are medical education and advocacy.