Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health

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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 Children’s Health 

Child Health Equity Symposium Nancy Molello

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

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 Health. 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 Children’s, 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.

Angelo Leto Barone

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 Children’s, 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.

Angelo Leto Barone

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 Children’s, 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.

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 Children’s Health. 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

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.  

Health Equity Community Partnership Initiatives

Ginsburg Summer Camp Experience Program for Nemours Associates

According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Shaping Summertime Experiences Report, children who are limited by their social, economic or physical environments during the summer months are at higher risk for worse academic, health, social and emotional and safety outcomes. The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity aims to enrich the learning environments of children throughout their summers.

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 who meet income eligibility criteria. 

For the pilot, we focused on the role of Nemours as an employer and anchor institution in Central Florida. This new initiative aligns with our Health Anchor strategy for the region. Health Anchors are health care organizations that are permanently rooted in their community, as Nemours is in the Central Florida community.

We are pleased to extend the program in 2024.  For additional information, read about the Ginsburg Institute Summer 2024 Summer Camp Experience.

Leveraging Nemours role as an employer, anchor institution and community partner in Central Florida, the Ginsburg Institute is committed to facilitating summertime experiences for those facing socioeconomic barriers. First, we will work to improve child health equity within our walls before going “beyond.”

Medical Care (and More) That Goes Well Beyond Medicine

At Nemours, families experience care that goes well beyond medicine. The Ginsburg Institute is a groundbreaking change for children's health as it creates positive system changes for all children — and seeks innovative solutions for kids who experience health disparities.

Check out our Well Beyond Medicine podcast to hear more about a range of timely topics. 

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 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. Additional details and formal invitations will follow in the coming months. 

  • Child Health Equity Symposium
  • October 2, 2024
  • Orlando, Florida

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 Children's 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

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, we’re also training the next generation of health equity leaders. Our Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program supports researchers by helping them design and implement innovative projects to enhance population health. The goal of the Ginsburg Scholars Mentorship Program is connecting knowledge seekers with medical professionals who can help them 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.

Brianna Karim

Brianna assists her mentor with parent management trainings for children diagnosed with ADHD. She is involved with conducting literature searches to find validated surveys for parent trainings. She also works with a pediatric gastroenterologist on a research project focusing on the impact of nutrition on health and disease.

Brianna received her Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in sociology at the University of Florida. She is currently applying to medical school to become a future physician.

Kaitlyn Jade Ong

Kaitlyn Jade works with her mentors to conduct innovative research to reduce health care disparities caused by various social determinants of health.

Kaitlyn Jade earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in health sciences at the University of Central Florida. She graduated as summa cum laude and with Burnett Honors Distinction. She is applying to medical school to become a future pediatrician.

Angelo Leto Barone

Micah Reisner

Micah works with their mentor to support the Nemours Mobile Clinic in providing free physicals and immunizations to uninsured children in Central Florida. Micah is also involved in distributing local community resources to families.

Micah graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, pre-clinical, and a bachelor’s in sociology. Reisner hopes to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree specializing in LGBTQ+ Population Health.

Tanynia Richard

Tanynia collaborates with her mentor, actively contributing to research focused on eating disorders in adolescents. She is deeply committed to advancing her career in public health, motivated by her strong dedication to creating a significant impact on health equity.

Tanynia earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a minor in psychology at Jacksonville University. She aspires to actively engage with underdeveloped/underserved communities. She wants to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams to design evidence-based interventions that cater to their unique needs. 

Angelo Leto Barone

Shedeline Ulysse

Shedeline contributes to groundbreaking research on childhood asthma and eczema under her mentor. She is passionate about global health, community engagement, early childhood education, language acquisition and multicultural awareness.

Shedeline’s commitment to making a positive impact on the world extends to her co-founding of a non-profit organization which played a pivotal role in rebuilding and sustaining elementary schools in Haiti.

Shedeline is currently enrolled in the University of Central Florida where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences.

Apply for Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program

Applications are available in January 2024. 

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 Children's to develop innovative models and pilot programs aimed at addressing the social needs of the patients, families and communities we serve. Submissions are due March 15th and October 15th.

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 Children’s Health. 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

Learn More and Apply. 

Our Awardees

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.”

Dr. Jonsdottir Urdur