[Applause] human connection requires trust
human connection requires trust
human connection requires trust vulnerability and respect of others
vulnerability and respect of others
vulnerability and respect of others human connection is the cornerstone of
human connection is the cornerstone of
human connection is the cornerstone of health let me explain this is me in 1991
health let me explain this is me in 1991
health let me explain this is me in 1991 where were you maybe you are listening
where were you maybe you are listening
where were you maybe you are listening to Nirvana’s smells like teen spirit
to Nirvana’s smells like teen spirit
to Nirvana’s smells like teen spirit rescuing the princess in the Legend of
rescuing the princess in the Legend of
rescuing the princess in the Legend of Zelda on your Super Nintendo or maybe
Zelda on your Super Nintendo or maybe
Zelda on your Super Nintendo or maybe you are scared to death watching Jodie
you are scared to death watching Jodie
you are scared to death watching Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs whether
Foster in Silence of the Lambs whether
Foster in Silence of the Lambs whether or not you remember where you were
or not you remember where you were
or not you remember where you were try to imagine with me a reality that
try to imagine with me a reality that
try to imagine with me a reality that some people faced that year one that
some people faced that year one that
some people faced that year one that makes Hannibal Lecter seem like a tame
makes Hannibal Lecter seem like a tame
makes Hannibal Lecter seem like a tame nightmare in 1991 in the country of
nightmare in 1991 in the country of
nightmare in 1991 in the country of Bhutan the government was carrying out
Bhutan the government was carrying out
Bhutan the government was carrying out an ethnic cleansing on a minority people
an ethnic cleansing on a minority people
an ethnic cleansing on a minority people Hannah Don Rai the smallest child in
Hannah Don Rai the smallest child in
Hannah Don Rai the smallest child in this picture and her family were part of
this picture and her family were part of
this picture and her family were part of that minority when she was just two
that minority when she was just two
that minority when she was just two years old they were forced to flee to a
years old they were forced to flee to a
years old they were forced to flee to a refugee camp in neighboring Nepal as if
refugee camp in neighboring Nepal as if
refugee camp in neighboring Nepal as if that weren’t tragic enough her father
that weren’t tragic enough her father
that weren’t tragic enough her father and brother died preventable deaths
and brother died preventable deaths
and brother died preventable deaths within the next six months in the camps
within the next six months in the camps
within the next six months in the camps there were no toilets or clean water
there were no toilets or clean water
there were no toilets or clean water there were other conditions that
there were other conditions that
there were other conditions that promoted disease and for the next 16
promoted disease and for the next 16
promoted disease and for the next 16 years Hannah and her family lived there
years Hannah and her family lived there
years Hannah and her family lived there they received food supplements from the
they received food supplements from the
they received food supplements from the UN twice a month her predominant memory
UN twice a month her predominant memory
UN twice a month her predominant memory of childhood is feeling hungry there
of childhood is feeling hungry there
of childhood is feeling hungry there like many of us Hannah found joy in the
like many of us Hannah found joy in the
like many of us Hannah found joy in the midst of hardship she has fond memories
midst of hardship she has fond memories
midst of hardship she has fond memories she had she remembers the taste of
she had she remembers the taste of
she had she remembers the taste of cardamom and her chai as she as people
cardamom and her chai as she as people
cardamom and her chai as she as people sat together drinking tea the clink of
sat together drinking tea the clink of
sat together drinking tea the clink of marbles hitting each other as she played
marbles hitting each other as she played
marbles hitting each other as she played with classmates after school or the
with classmates after school or the
with classmates after school or the peals of laughter as she gathered with
peals of laughter as she gathered with
peals of laughter as she gathered with friends on a holiday picnic like in this
friends on a holiday picnic like in this
friends on a holiday picnic like in this picture that’s Hannah in the orange
picture that’s Hannah in the orange
picture that’s Hannah in the orange scarf so Hannah connected not just with
scarf so Hannah connected not just with
scarf so Hannah connected not just with her friends but also in service she
her friends but also in service she
her friends but also in service she remembers helping her family with chores
remembers helping her family with chores
remembers helping her family with chores around the house like laundry crushing
around the house like laundry crushing
around the house like laundry crushing rocks with her mom in their manual labor
rocks with her mom in their manual labor
rocks with her mom in their manual labor job even wanting to give rice to beggars
job even wanting to give rice to beggars
job even wanting to give rice to beggars though her
though her
though her family had no money of their own because
family had no money of their own because
family had no money of their own because of these difficult circumstances
of these difficult circumstances
of these difficult circumstances Hannah developed perseverance and a
Hannah developed perseverance and a
Hannah developed perseverance and a strength of character and she carried
strength of character and she carried
strength of character and she carried these with her even as she was resettled
these with her even as she was resettled
these with her even as she was resettled to Nashville in 2008 here Hannah
to Nashville in 2008 here Hannah
to Nashville in 2008 here Hannah rejoiced because she had plenty of food
rejoiced because she had plenty of food
rejoiced because she had plenty of food she even ate eggs for a month straight
she even ate eggs for a month straight
she even ate eggs for a month straight because they had been such a luxury in
because they had been such a luxury in
because they had been such a luxury in the camp she remembers marveling at the
the camp she remembers marveling at the
the camp she remembers marveling at the automated doors at Walmart but Hannah
automated doors at Walmart but Hannah
automated doors at Walmart but Hannah was looking for something new without
was looking for something new without
was looking for something new without remembering what she already had she had
remembering what she already had she had
remembering what she already had she had left something behind the human
left something behind the human
left something behind the human connection Hannah’s first two weeks in
connection Hannah’s first two weeks in
connection Hannah’s first two weeks in Nashville she didn’t even open the doors
Nashville she didn’t even open the doors
Nashville she didn’t even open the doors to her apartment because she didn’t see
to her apartment because she didn’t see
to her apartment because she didn’t see people outside she heard the sound of a
people outside she heard the sound of a
people outside she heard the sound of a television for the first time but not
television for the first time but not
television for the first time but not the sound of real laughter Hannah was
the sound of real laughter Hannah was
the sound of real laughter Hannah was incredibly lonely but her story
incredibly lonely but her story
incredibly lonely but her story continues and her vulnerability became
continues and her vulnerability became
continues and her vulnerability became the means through which she could serve
the means through which she could serve
the means through which she could serve her own brokenness gave her insight into
her own brokenness gave her insight into
her own brokenness gave her insight into another broken system would anyone argue
another broken system would anyone argue
another broken system would anyone argue that our health care system is in
that our health care system is in
that our health care system is in serious need of reform even health
serious need of reform even health
serious need of reform even health itself needs redefining so often it’s
itself needs redefining so often it’s
itself needs redefining so often it’s defined in terms of illness how are you
defined in terms of illness how are you
defined in terms of illness how are you feeling today well I’ve got a headache
feeling today well I’ve got a headache
feeling today well I’ve got a headache or my allergies are killing me
or my allergies are killing me
or my allergies are killing me but if health isn’t just the absence of
but if health isn’t just the absence of
but if health isn’t just the absence of illness then what is it usually we think
illness then what is it usually we think
illness then what is it usually we think of health care the access to care our
of health care the access to care our
of health care the access to care our quality of care but there are other
quality of care but there are other
quality of care but there are other factors like our physical environment
factors like our physical environment
factors like our physical environment our health behaviors and socio-economic
our health behaviors and socio-economic
our health behaviors and socio-economic factors like housing and education these
factors like housing and education these
factors like housing and education these are the social determinants of health
are the social determinants of health
are the social determinants of health if these social determinants make up the
if these social determinants make up the
if these social determinants make up the most of the factors that influence our
most of the factors that influence our
most of the factors that influence our health where do we tend to invest
health where do we tend to invest
health where do we tend to invest usually it’s in that 20% we get so
usually it’s in that 20% we get so
usually it’s in that 20% we get so caught up and how best to implement
caught up and how best to implement
caught up and how best to implement health care that we forget to invest in
health care that we forget to invest in
health care that we forget to invest in opportunities that most impact our
opportunities that most impact our
opportunities that most impact our health so let’s bypass today’s
health so let’s bypass today’s
health so let’s bypass today’s gridlocked debate of health care reform
gridlocked debate of health care reform
gridlocked debate of health care reform and look at these social determinants
and look at these social determinants
and look at these social determinants what’s working in more resource limited
what’s working in more resource limited
what’s working in more resource limited areas what can we learn from other
areas what can we learn from other
areas what can we learn from other cultures about health and about
cultures about health and about
cultures about health and about community especially as they come here
community especially as they come here
community especially as they come here and become part of our own we’re not as
and become part of our own we’re not as
and become part of our own we’re not as individualized as we like to think we
individualized as we like to think we
individualized as we like to think we can’t be separated from our cultures or
can’t be separated from our cultures or
can’t be separated from our cultures or our community
our community
our community so why is our healthcare we know that
so why is our healthcare we know that
so why is our healthcare we know that social isolation increases our risk of
social isolation increases our risk of
social isolation increases our risk of illness and death and our medical system
illness and death and our medical system
illness and death and our medical system tends to treat the individual without
tends to treat the individual without
tends to treat the individual without the family or the community we’re
the family or the community we’re
the family or the community we’re seeking innovation while forgetting
seeking innovation while forgetting
seeking innovation while forgetting contextualization we’re looking for
contextualization we’re looking for
contextualization we’re looking for something new without remembering what
something new without remembering what
something new without remembering what we already have so let’s go back to
we already have so let’s go back to
we already have so let’s go back to Hanna and follow her on a journey not
Hanna and follow her on a journey not
Hanna and follow her on a journey not just around the world but from a belief
just around the world but from a belief
just around the world but from a belief that resources are purely economic to
that resources are purely economic to
that resources are purely economic to her realization that resources are
her realization that resources are
her realization that resources are physical cultural social and spiritual
physical cultural social and spiritual
physical cultural social and spiritual these resources these balanced
these resources these balanced
these resources these balanced relationships with self and others in
relationships with self and others in
relationships with self and others in the world around us or how we should
the world around us or how we should
the world around us or how we should redefine health what if there is an
redefine health what if there is an
redefine health what if there is an approach to health that really maximized
approach to health that really maximized
approach to health that really maximized this human connectivity especially in
this human connectivity especially in
this human connectivity especially in communities like refugees and immigrants
communities like refugees and immigrants
communities like refugees and immigrants or rural communities that are already
or rural communities that are already
or rural communities that are already relying on each other and depending on
relying on each other and depending on
relying on each other and depending on each other for their daily interactions
each other for their daily interactions
each other for their daily interactions when we look at this it’s called the
when we look at this it’s called the
when we look at this it’s called the community health worker model a
community health worker model a
community health worker model a community health worker is a frontline
community health worker is a frontline
community health worker is a frontline public health worker who’s a trusted
public health worker who’s a trusted
public health worker who’s a trusted member of the community that they serve
member of the community that they serve
member of the community that they serve community health workers have this trust
community health workers have this trust
community health workers have this trust that allows them to be a liaison a
that allows them to be a liaison a
that allows them to be a liaison a connection between the health and social
connection between the health and social
connection between the health and social service system in their own communities
service system in their own communities
service system in their own communities they’re able to facilitate access and
they’re able to facilitate access and
they’re able to facilitate access and increase the quality and cultural
increase the quality and cultural
increase the quality and cultural competence of care and to teach
competence of care and to teach
competence of care and to teach prevention and promotion and relevant
prevention and promotion and relevant
prevention and promotion and relevant and engaging ways community health
and engaging ways community health
and engaging ways community health workers aren’t necessarily highly
workers aren’t necessarily highly
workers aren’t necessarily highly educated sometimes just middle or high
educated sometimes just middle or high
educated sometimes just middle or high school level but they’ve been used in
school level but they’ve been used in
school level but they’ve been used in global health for centuries with
global health for centuries with
global health for centuries with incredible outcomes so if it is an
incredible outcomes so if it is an
incredible outcomes so if it is an education that makes a successful
education that makes a successful
education that makes a successful community health worker what is it it’s
community health worker what is it it’s
community health worker what is it it’s their ability to listen to connect and
their ability to listen to connect and
their ability to listen to connect and to empower it’s less the science of
to empower it’s less the science of
to empower it’s less the science of health and more the art of it perhaps
health and more the art of it perhaps
health and more the art of it perhaps you’ve heard of community health workers
you’ve heard of community health workers
you’ve heard of community health workers this year’s million dollar TED Prize
this year’s million dollar TED Prize
this year’s million dollar TED Prize went to Raj Punjabi and last mile health
went to Raj Punjabi and last mile health
went to Raj Punjabi and last mile health in Liberia their community health
in Liberia their community health
in Liberia their community health workers are extending primary health
workers are extending primary health
workers are extending primary health services to over a million people in
services to over a million people in
services to over a million people in rural populations throughout the country
rural populations throughout the country
rural populations throughout the country panjabi says
panjabi says
panjabi says our will to serve others can help us
our will to serve others can help us
our will to serve others can help us transform our own communities and that
transform our own communities and that
transform our own communities and that transformation is happening everywhere
transformation is happening everywhere
transformation is happening everywhere around the world including here in
around the world including here in
around the world including here in Nashville today Hannah is a community
Nashville today Hannah is a community
Nashville today Hannah is a community health worker in our city she’s working
health worker in our city she’s working
health worker in our city she’s working with refugees helping elders exercise
with refugees helping elders exercise
with refugees helping elders exercise when they’ve never done so before she’s
when they’ve never done so before she’s
when they’ve never done so before she’s helped lower a client’s hemoglobin a1c
helped lower a client’s hemoglobin a1c
helped lower a client’s hemoglobin a1c from 10 to 8 in just three months but
from 10 to 8 in just three months but
from 10 to 8 in just three months but more than that she’s building
more than that she’s building
more than that she’s building relationships and practicing presence
relationships and practicing presence
relationships and practicing presence listening when patients don’t feel hurt
listening when patients don’t feel hurt
listening when patients don’t feel hurt or understood by their health care
or understood by their health care
or understood by their health care providers or sometimes even their own
providers or sometimes even their own
providers or sometimes even their own families the community health worker
families the community health worker
families the community health worker model is one of capacity-building honing
model is one of capacity-building honing
model is one of capacity-building honing skills restoring dignity and cultivating
skills restoring dignity and cultivating
skills restoring dignity and cultivating whole person health in individuals and
whole person health in individuals and
whole person health in individuals and in communities and it’s not just
in communities and it’s not just
in communities and it’s not just communities for and outside the United
communities for and outside the United
communities for and outside the United States there are over 48,000 community
States there are over 48,000 community
States there are over 48,000 community health workers in our country for
health workers in our country for
health workers in our country for comparison that’s about equal to the
comparison that’s about equal to the
comparison that’s about equal to the number of professional photographers or
number of professional photographers or
number of professional photographers or actors in our country so community
actors in our country so community
actors in our country so community health workers like Hannah use their
health workers like Hannah use their
health workers like Hannah use their unique backgrounds and their life
unique backgrounds and their life
unique backgrounds and their life experiences to build trust within their
experiences to build trust within their
experiences to build trust within their own communities there are rural women
own communities there are rural women
own communities there are rural women working in maternal and child health in
working in maternal and child health in
working in maternal and child health in Appalachia there are Native Americans
Appalachia there are Native Americans
Appalachia there are Native Americans teaching diabetes management on
teaching diabetes management on
teaching diabetes management on reservations african-american community
reservations african-american community
reservations african-american community health workers advocating on behalf of
health workers advocating on behalf of
health workers advocating on behalf of patients in hospitals and clinics in
patients in hospitals and clinics in
patients in hospitals and clinics in states like Minnesota or North Carolina
states like Minnesota or North Carolina
states like Minnesota or North Carolina and Hispanic from authorities teaching
and Hispanic from authorities teaching
and Hispanic from authorities teaching in health departments in Texas in New
in health departments in Texas in New
in health departments in Texas in New Mexico these community health workers
Mexico these community health workers
Mexico these community health workers are being integrated into hospitals
are being integrated into hospitals
are being integrated into hospitals clinics and community agencies around
clinics and community agencies around
clinics and community agencies around the country and through these venues
the country and through these venues
the country and through these venues they’re connecting with communities to
they’re connecting with communities to
they’re connecting with communities to really transform health community health
really transform health community health
really transform health community health workers are not just a cheap stopgap
workers are not just a cheap stopgap
workers are not just a cheap stopgap they’re really building connection
they’re really building connection
they’re really building connection studies show that community health
studies show that community health
studies show that community health workers are reducing emergency
workers are reducing emergency
workers are reducing emergency department visits and hospital
department visits and hospital
department visits and hospital admissions related to diabetes with
admissions related to diabetes with
admissions related to diabetes with savings of over $2,200 per patient per
savings of over $2,200 per patient per
savings of over $2,200 per patient per year they’ve lowered asthma rates and
year they’ve lowered asthma rates and
year they’ve lowered asthma rates and teens by 35% and did you know that one
teens by 35% and did you know that one
teens by 35% and did you know that one in four American
in four American
in four American is at risk of preventable disease just
is at risk of preventable disease just
is at risk of preventable disease just because they don’t understand health
because they don’t understand health
because they don’t understand health information even if they do speak
information even if they do speak
information even if they do speak English community health workers can
English community health workers can
English community health workers can help impact this health illiteracy
help impact this health illiteracy
help impact this health illiteracy there’s a return on investment with this
there’s a return on investment with this
there’s a return on investment with this model as well anywhere from a two to one
model as well anywhere from a two to one
model as well anywhere from a two to one return to attend to one return and
return to attend to one return and
return to attend to one return and Studies on diabetes hypertension asthma
Studies on diabetes hypertension asthma
Studies on diabetes hypertension asthma and more these health Outsiders are
and more these health Outsiders are
and more these health Outsiders are really transforming communities from
really transforming communities from
really transforming communities from within they’re breaking down barriers
within they’re breaking down barriers
within they’re breaking down barriers and capitalizing on cultural strengths
and capitalizing on cultural strengths
and capitalizing on cultural strengths we see globally that they’re producing
we see globally that they’re producing
we see globally that they’re producing generational effects as they multiply
generational effects as they multiply
generational effects as they multiply the effects of and translate the
the effects of and translate the
the effects of and translate the advances of medicine because they
advances of medicine because they
advances of medicine because they understand the value of connection it’s
understand the value of connection it’s
understand the value of connection it’s what makes a model that’s so seemingly
what makes a model that’s so seemingly
what makes a model that’s so seemingly simple so very powerful so here we are
simple so very powerful so here we are
simple so very powerful so here we are in Music City the health care capital of
in Music City the health care capital of
in Music City the health care capital of America but it’s neither the music nor
America but it’s neither the music nor
America but it’s neither the music nor the industry that we’re most famous for
the industry that we’re most famous for
the industry that we’re most famous for or the most proud of its our southern
or the most proud of its our southern
or the most proud of its our southern hospitality the human connection we’re
hospitality the human connection we’re
hospitality the human connection we’re made for human connection whether we’re
made for human connection whether we’re
made for human connection whether we’re young or old introverted or extroverted
young or old introverted or extroverted
young or old introverted or extroverted we all desire to be loved and to connect
we all desire to be loved and to connect
we all desire to be loved and to connect and it’s when we’re connected that we’re
and it’s when we’re connected that we’re
and it’s when we’re connected that we’re most open to change so when we seek
most open to change so when we seek
most open to change so when we seek change whether in our health care system
change whether in our health care system
change whether in our health care system or our own behavior why are we looking
or our own behavior why are we looking
or our own behavior why are we looking for something new without considering
for something new without considering
for something new without considering what we already have this vision isn’t
what we already have this vision isn’t
what we already have this vision isn’t something we have to create it’s already
something we have to create it’s already
something we have to create it’s already here and all around the world community
here and all around the world community
here and all around the world community health workers are part of the solution
health workers are part of the solution
health workers are part of the solution we know that community health workers
we know that community health workers
we know that community health workers are just one piece and that we can all
are just one piece and that we can all
are just one piece and that we can all be a part human connectivity is greater
be a part human connectivity is greater
be a part human connectivity is greater than any healthcare technology or
than any healthcare technology or
than any healthcare technology or innovation that we can create because we
innovation that we can create because we
innovation that we can create because we need the human connection for them to
need the human connection for them to
need the human connection for them to work so let’s restore dignity in a
work so let’s restore dignity in a
work so let’s restore dignity in a digital age and keep humanity at the
digital age and keep humanity at the
digital age and keep humanity at the heart of health thank you
heart of health thank you
heart of health thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment