Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions
Part of Strengthening Pathways: A national conversation about health research
Date of the Symposium:
June 18, 2025
For now, please save the date, and more information will be coming soon!
We also encourage you to subscribe to the symposium email list to stay in the know.
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.
Questions? Please contact:
Van Du ([email protected]) or Kat Kobylt ([email protected])
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, will be hosting three different interactive virtual conversations, April 29, May 13, and May 14. Each will cover similar but slightly different topics, but all three will provide the opportunity for us to hear from you. Your participation is vital to ensuring the data analysis we develop truly meets your on-the-ground needs!
To help inform the content of the Symposium, we need your input!
Attend one, or all three sessions!
April 29, 2025 | 12:00 p.m.
May 13, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
May 14, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
April 29, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Beyond Alerts: Using Heat-Health Data to Inform Local Action (virtual)
We’ll explore data showing the relationship between heat events and Emergency Department (ED) visits in our region and discuss how this evidence can strengthen your municipality's heat emergency response systems, and will 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 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
May 14, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Bridging Heat Research and Best Practices in Communities Town Halls (virtual)
Topics of discussion to be determined.
Co-hosts: Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).
