Accelerate Health Equity

Accelerate Health Equity (AHE) is a city-wide initiative aimed at addressing health equity and racism, and advancing health through a unified approach in Philadelphia. AHE’s mission is to fight racism within health care by supporting and evaluating evidence-based interventions to address racism and improve the health of Black Philadelphians. 

AHE, led by Drs. Kevin Volpp, Meghan Lane-Fall, and Erica Dixon, is a collaboration with Independence Blue Cross and health systems across Philadelphia, including AmeriHealth Caritas, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Independence Blue Cross, Jefferson Health, Main Line Health, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Temple Health, and Trinity Mid-Atlantic, all “working together for a healthier Philadelphia.”

Among other efforts, the initiative has partnered with the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia for the Well City Challenge—a social impact competition focused on mental health and heart health with community partners—and with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance for “Cycles of Impact” to increase colorectal cancer screenings for Black Philadelphians. AHE also launched its inaugural grants program focused on health system-based gun violence prevention initiatives across the city and funded projects led by investigators at Temple, Jefferson, CHOP, and Penn in 2023.