engAGE with Heart Partners with Uber to Expand Transportation Access for Health

engAGE with Heart, a community health program addressing cardiovascular health and healthy aging in East and West Baltimore, today announced a new partnership with Uber to provide free rides to help program participants access health and community services across Baltimore.

The initiative will support community members in reaching screenings, doctor appointments, healthy food and their medications – addressing transportation as a social determinant of health. Community Health Ambassadors (CHAs), who serve as trusted connectors between residents and resources, will be able to leverage the partnership to better support their neighborhoods. engAGE with Heart predominantly serves residents in the 21206, 20215, and 21217 zip codes.

“This partnership with Uber represents the importance of investing in the health of our communities and recognizing that healthcare depends not only on what happens within the four walls of a clinic or hospital but also what doesn’t happen because care too often can’t be accessed,” said Mike Hodin, CEO, Global Coalition on Aging, “along with our corporate sponsor, Novartis, we welcome Uber as a partner in transforming the health paradigm for underserved communities in Baltimore.”

“At Uber, we believe transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to receiving care,” said Briana Gilmore, Head of Global Accessibility policy at Uber and Baltimore resident. “By combining Uber’s technology with the deep community trust that engAGE with Heart has built, we are creating new pathways to health equity and long-term well-being.”

The program has seen high rates of success following initial launch. “Our partnership with Uber is already transforming the way our community members access care,” said Rhonda Scott, Community Health Ambassador with engAGE with Heart and a longtime Baltimore resident. 

“Something as simple as a five-minute car ride can mean getting to a doctor’s appointment on time, picking up medication, or finally saying yes to a screening they’ve been putting off. It’s making a real difference.” 

The collaboration lays the groundwork for an ongoing relationship between engAGE with Heart and Uber, bringing innovative mobility solutions to underserved communities.

About engAGE with Heart
engAGE with Heart is a community-based health program dedicated to improving cardiovascular health and overall wellness in Baltimore, Maryland. Developed for and with the communities of Baltimore, engAGE brings together families, churches, senior centers and community partners to support heart health. engAGE with Heart is led by the Global Coalition on Aging and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Media Contact
Danny O’Keefe

Dokeefe@globalcoalitiononaging.com

How Community Health Outreach Makes a Difference

Thank you to the Baltimore Sun for the recognition!

“Too often, I see patients who are in the hospital in large part because of a social challenge — now, engAGE with Heart’s Community Health Ambassadors and congregations will regularly check in on these patients,” writes Dr. Panagis Galiastatos, co-director of Medicine for the Greater Good at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

We are honored to be able to support the City of Baltimore with community-based healthcare. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3Hg2XuD

To join us on our mission and learn more, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3G7Zc6J

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Helping Communities Become Healthier, a Conversation With Faith Elise Metlock

The Novartis Live podcast episode “From Worship to Wellbeing” highlights how engAGE with Heart is advancing equitable cardiovascular care through tailored resources and outreach efforts within the Baltimore community.  

The episode features Faith Elise Metlock, a nurse and PhD student at Johns Hopkins University, who discusses the importance of access, trust, and culturally grounded care in reaching underserved communities.  

As part of an ongoing effort to bring resources directly into community spaces, these resources are helping to close gaps in care and rebuild trust in the healthcare system among Baltimore community members.  

Tune into the latest Novartis Live episode to hear more.

LIVE Magazine Article on engAGE with Heart Selected as Webby Honoree

LIVE Magazine article “Rebuilding Trust Through Hyperlocal Networks” has been selected as an honoree at this year’s 29th annual Webby Awards for Best Multimedia Storytelling for Advertising, Storytelling, & PR.

The Webby Awards is an international award recognizing excellence on the internet, presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) and a judging body composed of industry experts and technology innovators.

Zeke Cohen Highlights engAGE with Heart Program in Baltimore, Puts Mental Health and Wellness at Forefront  

engAGE with Heart is proud to provide accessible health services to underserved communities across the city of Baltimore through our partnership with local churches and community centers.

Watch here to learn how City Council President Zeke Cohen is putting mental health and wellness at the forefront of his agenda.   

Providing Care in a Health and Food Desert

Providing Care in a Health and Food Desert

March 1, 2024

engAGE with Heart utilizes a community-based model to deliver resources to those who need them most. Our Community Health Ambassadors – trusted members of the local community – power this work. Read here to learn more about how our CHAs are tackling one of Baltimore’s largest health barriers: food deserts.

Source: Providing care in a health and food desert – Novartis Live. Magazine