Community Conversations — Health Equity

Dr. Robinson has served as vice president of public health for Baystate Health since 2015, where he is responsible for integrating clinical and community care to better serve vulnerable people and create healthier communities. In leading Baystate’s efforts to expand the definition of health to include economic opportunity; access to education, nutritious food and culture; safe neighborhoods; and other underlying essentials of a person’s and a community’s ability to thrive, Dr. Robinson focuses on building community partnerships to achieve large-scale health improvements, including resource development, health education and health equity initiatives, and community benefits.

Tania Barber is president and chief executive officer of Caring Health Center (CHC), the only federally-funded community health center in the city of Springfield. CHC serves 28,000 patients annually at its five primary care sites throughout the region, offering integrated behavioral health and substance abuse programs, dental services; a wellness center; and women, infants, and children nutrition programming, among others. She joined CHC in 1996 and has served as president since 2013.