sponsor content What's this?
Sponsored Content
Advancing health equity while opening the doors for others
A Q&A with Cassaundra Howell, president and CEO of Public Health Solutions
Cassaundra Howell Joe Jenkins for Public Health Solutions
Presented by:
Cassaundra Howell
President and CEO
Public Health Solutions
What does it mean to you to be a Black trailblazer?
Being a Black trailblazer in public health means advancing health equity while opening doors for others – often in spaces where we’ve historically been underrepresented or unheard. My lived experience informs how I approach issues like food insecurity, housing instability and access to care – not as abstract challenges, but as realities, I’ve seen families navigate every day.
It also means providing mentorship and representation so young Black professionals, especially young Black women, can see themselves in leadership positions.
What drives you to succeed?
Every day, I'm driven by the people depending on our work – the single parent navigating a complex health care system alone, the child facing environmental hazards, the elderly person lacking access to preventive care.
I also feel a deep responsibility to those who paved the way for me – and to make sure I’m doing my part for those coming next. Breaking barriers means nothing if I don’t deliver results and create opportunities for others.
What's on your agenda in 2026?
We're strengthening partnerships to expand what we can do for underserved New Yorkers and finding new ways to deliver services in a challenging environment. Our mission remains constant: supporting underserved New Yorkers in achieving optimal health. We won’t just maintain what Public Health Solutions has always done – we’re pushing forward, even when the environment makes that harder.
What’s most urgent in addressing health disparities facing Black and Brown communities?
We have to stop treating symptoms and start dismantling barriers by implementing policies that address housing instability and food deserts directly. Housing instability, food deserts and health care access – these aren't separate problems.
Black and Brown New Yorkers already know the disparities exist. What they need are resources and systems that are designed with them, not just for them.