On Friday, November 14, ARCHI held its second annual

State of Metro Atlanta Health (SMAH) conference in Decatur, Ga. This standing-room-only

convening focused on realigning and reuniting after a year of significant cuts to public health funding

and infrastructure across metro Atlanta.

Nearly 300 healthcare leaders, clinicians, and community partners filled the Decatur Conference

Center to confront the realities of food insecurity, housing instability, and shrinking public health

resources — and their impact on health outcomes for residents in every corner of the region.

“After a year like this, it’s clear that no single institution can carry the weight alone,” said Jeff Smythe,

Executive Director of ARCHI. “If we move together — as systems, institutions, and neighbors —

better health for every community in metro Atlanta is possible. This is not a time to back down.”

Speakers throughout the day amplified the call for deeper coordination and shared responsibility

within the healthcare system:

“We have a responsibility to maximize the impact of our resources and that is only

going to happen if we collaborate.”

– Joon S. Lee, MD, CEO, Emory Healthcare

“It all goes back to making sure that people who aren’t connected to health services get

connected.”

– John M. Haupert, FACHE, CEO, Grady Health System

“We [can be] so focused on operating as a business, but we can’t lose sight of our

purpose. We are here to serve the community and the patient.”

– Mark Crossen, Complex Care Coordination, Northside Hospital

Keynote speaker Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA, underscored the need to embrace difference as

a strategic advantage in the face of converging crises.

“We can’t be fearful of difference; we have to see it as an opportunity.”

– Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA, Keynote SpeakerAgainst a backdrop of reduced funding, workforce strain, and growing social needs, SMAH

reaffirmed a shared mandate: to align missions, data, and resources so that regional health systems

can work together to respond to the needs of metro Atlanta residents.

Session Highlights:

●

In “Aligning Strategy with Policy: Preparing for What’s Coming in 2026,” Georgia State

Rep. Saira Draper urged advocates to “connect the dots” for policymakers by tying real

community stories to the intended and unintended consequences of decisions, especially

around Medicaid expansion. She emphasized the power of metro–rural coalitions and

electing aligned leaders, noting that because most legislators represent rural districts,

showing how policies benefit those communities is key to moving health equity to the top of

the agenda.

●

In “Collaborative Commitment to Housing and Health,” panelists from Project HEAL,

Grady, Piedmont, Wellstar, and Partners for HOME shared how a $9M, multi-health system

initiative is integrating housing with onsite medical care for 500 unhoused individuals—using

navigators, recuperative care beds, and deep shelter partnerships to ensure patients don’t

return to the streets. Speakers highlighted powerful early results and hard truths: addressing

homelessness can’t be done in a silo, health systems must “meet housing partners halfway,”

and sustained funding and expanded bed capacity are essential as demand and acuity

continue to rise.

●

In “Tackling Food Insecurity,” Rachel Ferencik led a powerful conversation with Will

Sellers (Wholesome Wave), Matt Pieper (Open Hand), Kellie Bryson (Point Source Youth),

Wandé Meadows (Hand, Heart, Soul), and Rev. Eric Thomas (Metro Atlanta Ministerial

Alliance) on disrupting food insecurity through innovation—repurposing abandoned buildings,

reducing bureaucracy, tackling food waste, and addressing transportation as a core health

need. Panelists shared concrete strategies from cash-transfer stipends for youth to bringing

policymakers along on meal deliveries, urging participants to “do the math for legislators,”

and stay active in advocacy “in the suites and in the streets.”

●

In “Advocacy 101,” LaTroya Hester guided a dynamic conversation with Natasha Taylor

(Georgia Watch), Elizabeth Appley (housing advocate), Commissioner Dana Barrett (Fulton

County), and Kim Jones (NAMI Georgia) on painting a clear picture for legislators, building

cross-sector coalitions, and using community stories to drive policy change in a polarized

climate. Panelists reminded participants that “people who touch the problem can identify best

what’s needed” (Appley), that nonprofits “may not have money, but we have passion”

(Taylor), and that effective advocacy hinges on data, emotional connection, and finding “a

way to effectively tell your story” (Jones).