Dr. Reginald Jones of Dignity Health talks with CBHN Executive Director Rhonda Smith about the future of healthcare
 

October 29-30, 2025 – The California Black Health Network, including many Catholic healthcare leaders, convened in Los Angeles for a “call to action” to address care disparities in California.

At the CBHN Health Equity Summit, leading clinicians, policymakers, public health officials, community advocates, and individuals from across the state gathered to develop actionable solutions for protecting communities from related challenges. 

Kenya Beckmann, Chief Philanthropy and Health Equity Officer at Providence, was the welcoming speaker
 

"Through Medicaid cuts, elimination of ACA subsidies, and stricter eligibility requirements, up to 1.8 million Californians could lose health insurance coverage as a result of OBBBA, with about 150,000–180,000 of those being Black Californians,” said CBHN Executive Director Rhonda Smith. “This summit was not just timely. It was a call to action.”

Dr. Candace Lawson of Dignity Health (right) and Dr. Monica Ferguson of Providence discuss the impact of HR 1 on healthcare delivery
 

Dignity Health, Providence, and the Alliance of Catholic Health Care sponsored the summit and participated widely. Monica Ferguson, MD, and Kenya Beckmann, Chief Philanthropy and Health Equity Officer were speakers from Providence. Reginald Jones, MD, Candace Lawson, MD, and Jahmal Miller, MHA, participated from Dignity Health. 

“Like CBHN, Catholic healthcare champions robust communication and collaboration between healthcare providers and community stakeholders to address health disparities, and the Summit was an engaging and productive forum to move forward," said Alliance of Catholic Healthcare Executive Vice President Lori Dangberg. 

Learn more at the CBHN Health Equity Summit summary.