Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions
Part of Strengthening Pathways: A national conversation about health research
June 18, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Boston University (BU) Center for Computing and Data Services (CCDS)
665 Commonwealth Ave - 17th Floor, Boston, MA
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in partnership with the Center for Climate and Health at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), is hosting a regional symposium titled Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions.
The symposium aims to engage with and foster constructive dialogue among key stakeholders across sectors. By bringing together experts and leaders from academic, state and municipal governments, healthcare institutions, community-based organizations, foundations, and advocacy groups in the region, we will help bridge the gap between research and practice.
Interested in potentially leading a 6-8 minute lightning talk about existing resources that show how our region is prepared for extreme heat? Please email: [email protected]. The deadline to do so is: May 23, 2025.
Questions? Please contact:
Van Du ([email protected]) or Kat Kobylt ([email protected])
Agenda Overview
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Networking (optional)
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Welcome
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
Lightning Talks
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.
Panel Discussion
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Debrief and Group Discussion on Regional Health Priorities
12:00 p.m.
Lunch and Networking
Add-on Event: Heat and Health Poster Session
Following the Symposium program, BUSPH will be hosting a poster session (12:30 - 2 p.m.) focused broadly on heat health. They are asking for poster session submissions that cover research, interventions, and applications of research. The submission deadline is: June 6, 2025.
Strengthening Pathways
A national conversation focused on identifying opportunities to better translate innovations from prevention and care research to maximize societal benefits, comprised of 18 symposia occurring across the country in the spring and summer of 2025.
Supported by a collective of leading funders of health research in the U.S., these symposia will illuminate strategies to connect societal health priorities with research ideas, funding models, policies and commercial incentives to improve health outcomes.
The aim is to create a blueprint for action that can shape new funding models, policy changes and industry investments to promote health innovations that prevent disease and improve outcomes of clinical care.
The Strengthening
Pathways Collective.
Image Descriptions
Strengthening Pathways Collective: the logos of the funders in the Collective. Doris Duke Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Dana Foundation, The Donaghue Foundation, Prebys Foundation, Robertson Foundation, and Susan G. Komen. Under the logos in black ink, it says, "The Strengthening Pathways Collective".
Map: A white map of the United States with every state outlined in black. The states hosting symposiums are colored in lime green. Under the map in black text it says, "4 months. 18 conversations."
Fostering Collaborations: Symposium Event Planning Conversations
MAPC in conjunction with partners, hosted three different interactive virtual conversations, April 29, May 13, and May 14. Each covered similar but slightly different topics, and all three provided the opportunity for us to hear from you, which will help ensure the data analysis we develop truly meets your on-the-ground needs!
Find the recordings and slide decks from all three sessions below.
April 29, 2025 | Beyond Alerts: Using Heat-Health Data to Inform Local Action
Watch the Event Recording
View the Presentation Slides
We explored data showing the relationship between heat events and Emergency Department (ED) visits in our region and discussed how this evidence can strengthen your municipality's heat emergency response systems, and can inform research on developing health-informed heat thresholds in our region.
Co-hosts: Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), and the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC).
May 13, 2025 | Town Hall - Exploring Heat Resilience: Scenario-based Insights and Collaborative Solutions
Watch the Town Hall Recording
View the Presentation Slides
May 14, 2025 | Town Hall - From Insight to Action: Evidence-based Approaches to Heat Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions
Watch the Town Hall Recording
View the Presentation Slides
Co-hosts: Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).
