The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and the Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Mental Health Equity Leadership at Yale University are collaborating in a project to address ongoing inequities in health research, focusing on research studies and clinical trials for adults ages 65 and older. This project culminated in the “Health Equity and Older Adults Summit” at the Hogg Foundation on Friday, November 7th, which brought together leaders, researchers, practitioners, and community partners dedicated to advancing equity in aging and health. This select group of experts examined and addressed barriers that have historically limited the participation of older adults, including older adults of color, in clinical research. Drawing on evidence from community-based participatory research (CBPR) and emerging models like community-based participatory arts research (CBPAR), they explored strategies to build trust, honor cultural capital, and create sustainable pathways for engagement in both health care and research from a health humanities perspective.

The one-day summit, led by the Hogg Foundation’s executive director, Dr. Octavio N. Martinez Jr., and its postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Kelley T. Glover, created a space for open dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and the exchange of innovative ideas to advance inclusion and well-being for older adults in clinical trials. Three publications are being produced from this health equity and older adults project: A consensus report highlighting consensus statements and recommendations from our expert summit participants and two landscape analyses: “Clinical Trials and Older Adults” and “Participatory Arts and Health Humanities Models in Clinical Trial Recruitment and Retention Rates of Older Adults.”

These publications are expected to be available in journals by the fall of 2026.