Community leaders in Gwinnett County gathered on September 24 for the annual event, “A Northside Conversation: Connecting for a Healthy Gwinnett.” The symposium took place at the Gas South Convention Center and was organized for local nonprofit organizations. It was hosted by the GHS Foundation and addressed various health care topics.
Debbie Bilbro, president and CEO of Northside Hospital Gwinnett and Northside Duluth, along with Jay Dennard, chief operating officer of Northside Duluth, welcomed attendees. They spoke about the growth of Northside Hospital and its ongoing commitment to serving Gwinnett County.
The event featured a panel discussion titled “Exploring Challenges and Navigating Barriers in Behavioral Health,” moderated by Renee Byrd-Lewis, president and CEO of the Gwinnett Coalition. Panelists included Jessica Andrews-Wilson, executive director of GUIDE, Inc.; Roland Behm, co-founder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership; Shannon Hervey, Ph.D., director of community health for the Gwinnett Coalition; and Al Taylor, Ed.D., interim superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Another session highlighted how different organizations are addressing behavioral health needs and discussed plans for future programs. Panelists in this session were Nikeisha Whatley-León, system director at Northside Hospital Behavioral Health Services; Marina Peed, CEO and executive director at Mosaic Georgia; and Jennifer Hibbard, CEO at View Point Health.
The day concluded with a personal testimony from Wendell J. Fields titled “Turning Crisis Into Purpose.” Fields is a board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Debbie Bilbro said that Northside Hospital remains dedicated to supporting health initiatives throughout Gwinnett County.
