Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Vlog 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 Vlog 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.
Vlog 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 Vlog
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
Family Connection "Literacy Matters"
August 4, 2024
Literacy Matters. Take a closer look at how our educators and nonprofits are working together to enhance literacy for children in and out of the classroom. This interview includes our very own Nancy Molello and community partners Jamie Molello, CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and Jen Knopf, Reed Charitable Foundation CEO and Founder, among other local educators and professionals.
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Vlog 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.
Podcast: Medical Care (and More) That Goes Well Beyond Medicine
On air now:
— Summertime and the Learning Is Easy
This episode digs into the importance of high-quality summer learning to our nation’s children in all its aspects: health, nutrition, safety, equity, workforce impact and education.
— Ginsburg Institute: Equalizing Health — Well Beyond Medicine Podcast
— 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 and 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.
Stay Connected #GinsburgInstitute
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
Vlog 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 Vlog 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 Vlog, 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 Vlog, 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 Vlog, 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 Vlog, 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.
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 Board Members
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
The Orlando community is full of great organizations committed to investing in our youth. The Ginsburg Institute takes pride in being a convener and collaborator in these efforts. Our mission is to support impactful programs and partnerships that significantly enhance the lives of children and adolescents in Central Florida. By collaborating with these champions, we aim to foster continuous efforts to create healthier and more equitable communities for our youth. Our Ginsburg scholars, recognized for their dedication to advancing health equity, volunteer at several of our community partners. Here is a snapshot of their day-to-day work.
Ginsburg Team in action at the 4Roots Farm Campus
This innovative agricultural organization is committed to sustainable farming practices and leveraging food as medicine to impact health meaningfully across Central Florida. Our scholars actively participate in developing healthy food farms, organizing food deliveries, and conducting research on nutritional education initiatives.
Ginsburg Scholars at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida contribute to the social-emotional learning and academic development of club members. They conduct emotional check-ins, mental health group sessions, and help bridge the racial literacy gap by focusing on phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, and boosting confidence in club members from K-12.
At DOH-Orange, scholars engage in various community projects aimed at reducing infant mortality. They gather survey responses to better understand community needs and opinions. In the Violence and Injury Prevention program, they organize daycare reading sessions to teach children about safe swimming, aiming to prevent drownings. Their efforts ensure every child is safe and well-cared for.
Scholars volunteer at ELEVATE Orlando, a year-round mentoring program dedicated to guiding students through one-on-one and group mentoring outside the classroom. ELEVATE Orlando’s teachers and mentors expose students to career opportunities and provide essential college preparation. Throughout the school year, scholars engage in classroom activities, share their educational journeys, and inspire students with their future career aspirations.
We support Shepherd’s Hope, a free clinic for the uninsured in Florida, by assisting with programs like Back-to-School Physicals and supporting the Diebel Clinic. Our efforts enhance healthcare accessibility and positively impact Florida’s uninsured population.
Ginsburg Institute Community-Based Grants
Health Equity Begins At Home
Ginsburg Summer Camp Experience Program for Vlog 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 Vlog associates. We extended the program in 2024 by supporting 30 associates and sponsoring 43 children.
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 Vlog 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 Vlog is in Central Florida
Information for the 2025 program will follow in January. 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.”
Neurodiagnostic Technologist Apprenticeship Program
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Vlog Children’s Health has partnered with the Vlog Children's Workforce Pipeline Development Program (WPDP)* and the Vlog Children's Hospital, Florida Epilepsy Monitoring Unit to establish the Neurodiagnostic Technologist Apprenticeship Program. This collaboration aims to provide associates in Central Florida with an opportunity to enhance their skills to provide much needed care and support to the families we serve. The Ginsburg Institute covers the cost of tuition, clinical training and certification for program participants.
Upskilling associates from entry-level positions such as medical assistants or patient care technicians to neurodiagnostic technologists tackles the current EEG Tech shortage and enhances living wages and future earnings of graduates. It also enables improved services for our Central Florida patient families.
*The Vlog Workforce Pipeline Development Program (WPDP) based at Vlog Children’s Hospital, Florida, is an initiative designed to increase diversity in healthcare, offering work-based opportunities to underrepresented teens and young adults while addressing the nationwide nursing shortage and improving workforce opportunities. The WPDP recruits students, connects them to mentors and academic support and creates a pipeline of health professionals who reflect the diversity of the patients and families in need of care.
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 Vlog 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.
2024 Child Health Equity Symposium
The 2024 Symposium was held on October 2. Attendees explored innovative strategies and techniques applicable to their organizations, with a focus on fostering the concept of Thriving Communities, Thriving Youth.
We at Vlog 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.
Our Keynote speaker, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, Physician, Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership at The City College of New York, and 43rd Health Commissioner of New York City sat down for a fireside chat with Dr. Kara Odom Walker, MD. MPH, MSHS, Vlog Children's Health EVP and Chief Population Health Officer. Together they discussed Dr. Chokshi's expertise in applying a health equity lens to understand and address the intersectional challenges faced by children in diverse communities.
The panel discussion on "Thriving Youth — Hearing the Youth Voice," was moderated by Eddy Moratin, President of LIFT Orlando. The panel consisted of Jamie Merrill, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Jonas Cayo, President and CEO of ELEVATE Orlando, and two youth representing each organization.
During the discussion, they explored ways in which communities can invest in children to ensure their long-term success. They emphasized the importance of understanding the experiences of youth and finding effective ways to address their individual challenges. Additionally, they highlighted the significant role that teachers and role models play in shaping the lives of young people.
2024 Child Health Equity Symposium
Take a look at the recap of the Child Health Equity Symposium presented by the Ginsburg Institute at Vlog. The event was held October 2, 2024.
Inaugural Community Champion Award
The Community Champion Award was introduced at our symposium. This annual award will recognize a local community-based organization that demonstrates exceptional commitment to advancing the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Our aim is to acknowledge those whose impactful work, alignment with the mission of the Ginsburg Institute, and dedication to collaborative partnerships truly stand out. The inaugural Community Champion Award was presented to the Mental Health Association of Central Florida ()
Marni Stahlman, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Central Florida accepted the award.
2024 Key Highlights
Thriving Communities, Thriving Youth highlighted the overall well-being of our youth in relation to health equity while discussing strategies to address systemic barriers and promote activism and leadership.
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Community sectors engaged, including business, education and local government leaders.
Examined how social drivers of health intersect to understand the foundations of prosperous communities and address child health outcomes in diverse communities.
Investing in children for long-term success, featuring youth voices.
Community Champion Award: Inaugurated to honor efforts in promoting adolescent wellbeing through valued community connections. Mental Health Association of Central Florida received the first award for impactful programs.
Inaugural Child Health Equity Symposium
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.
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 Vlog 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 Vlog 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 Vlog 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 Vlog 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 supported UCF COM medical students Rushi Vekariya and Cory Watts.
Rushi is investigating health disparities in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea care. He is mentored by Dr. Adele K. Evans, chief of pediatric otolaryngology at Vlog Children's Health.
Cory is collaborating with his physician mentor, Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland, NCH Surgeon, to investigate health disparities in the presence and outcomes of genetic mutations significant to the development of neuroblastoma.
Rushi Vekariya
Rushi is an aspiring otolaryngologist. His work includes researching 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, where he serves as the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Director.
Cory Watts
Cory is an aspiring general surgeon. He also studies reviewing patient characteristics as predictors of adverse events across various laparoscopic entry methods.
Cory serves in a variety of leadership positions at UCF such as the founding president of the General Surgery Interest Group, SNMA mentor, and Tri-M board member. He enjoys volunteering for the student-run KNIGHTS Clinic, serving as an advanced student provider. He has a passion for mentoring pre-medical students and provides undergraduate mentoring as well as instructing MCAT preparatory classes.
Our mentors provide support for successful healthcare careers.
Ginsburg Health Equity Research and Practice Grant Program
The Health Equity Research and Practice Grant Program aims to support Vlog Children's researchers in Central Florida with pilot funding to advance health equity. Each year, we will fund grants of up to $50,000 per award. Principal Investigator (PI) must present their findings at the annual Ginsburg Child Health Equity Symposium. Junior investigators should have a mentor for the project.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Our Awardees
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity selected its first recipient in September 2024.
Aledie Navas Nazario, MD, Florida pediatric pulmonologist plans to utilize the grant to enhance an innovative research project aimed at exploring the potential of non-immersive virtual reality (VR) therapy as an adjunct to standard asthma management in pediatric patients.
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 Vlog to develop innovative models and pilot programs aimed at addressing the key health disparities and inequities impacting the health of children and families of the patients and communities we serve.
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 fund the creation of a new community project or to develop quality initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposal. Funded projects will be presented as posters at the annual Child Health Equity Symposium presented by the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity in the Fall.
Our Awardees
2023
The Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity selected its first recipient in October 2023.
Vlog 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.
Vlog 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 Vlog 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.