About Us

Empowering Communities Through Digital Equity

After decades of providing medical care in the South Bronx, we witnessed firsthand how the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted our Bronx and Brooklyn communities. While many adapted to a new normal of remote work, virtual classrooms, and online shopping, those without access to digital tools or skills found themselves increasingly isolated. The digital divide, or gap, between those with access to technology and those without has never been more evident. "I spent my first year in the Bronx during medical training in 1993", says Director, Dr. Jakobsen. "So much has changed, but despite all the time gone by, the area still faces challenges." It was earlier this year that things took shape. "Meeting so many people who wanted to be change-makers inspired me. Social worker Hope Williams, for instance, had a clear vision for delivering targeted education at the clinic level, leveraging existing relationships. James Young, another social worker, brought a focus on the differences in digital competency between young people and the elderly, even in the same community". Over time, a number of talented people wanted to get involved and have joined, each bringing their passion and unique skills.

Most of us rely on the internet for educational materials related to health and wellness. Without access, many are left behind, becoming less health literate and more vulnerable. With our combined public health expertise, local healthcare experience, and partnerships with technology advocates, we felt a strong imperative to act. As technology transforms healthcare and health, we cannot and must not allow the most vulnerable communities to fall further behind.

At the Digital Equity Initiative, we are committed to bridging the digital divide and empowering communities through digital and health literacy, something we hold to be central to public health. Through demographic research, policy development, and educational outreach, at the community and clinic level, we are striving to drive positive change and promote digital health engagement in vulnerable communities.

Our Growing Team

Glenn Jakobsen, DO, FAAPMR, FABDA
Founder and Director, The Digital Equity Initiative
Physician, Board Certified Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Fellow/Founding Member, American Board of Disability Analysts
MPH Candidate, Brown University School of Public Health
Interests: Leveraging AI to reach vulnerable communities, relationship between digital competency and health outcomes, technology as an adaptive aid for disability

James Young, LCSW
Columbia University, US Army Veteran
MPH Candidate, Brown University School of Public Health
Interests: Digital literacy and health disparities among veterans and seniors, accessibility of public health services and programs.

Hope Williams, LMSW
Clinical Preceptor, Brown University School of Public Health
24 Years of Experience in Health Literacy in the Bronx, Dept. Social Work, St. Barnabas Outpatient Dialysis Center
Interests: Digital empowerment among those with health challenges. Clinic-based literacy interventions. How digital literacy, health literacy, and general literacy overlap.

Dana-Marie Kai Thomas, MSCMP, PhD, CPM, CSM, ASM
Professor, School of Health Science & Public Policy, Walden University
MPH Candidate, Brown University School of Public Health
Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Preventive Medicine, UAB School of Medicine,

Postdoctoral Scholar, Minority Health, Equity, and Disparities, University of Alabama, Birmingham
Interests: Urban health equity, impact of built environments on health, heat-islands, equity in infrastructure, fostering grass roots change.

Penney Miyan, MA, MS
Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine
Ph.D. Candidate, Philosophy/Bioethics, Georgetown University
Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician
Interests: Bioethical communication of health information to culturally diverse populations. Addressing barriers to effective interactions in limited English proficiency populations. Fostering community-level engagement and volunteerism.

Kara Bonitatibus, JD, MPH

Founder, Bloomsday LLC, practicing public health consultantancy, community outreach and engagement

company.

Master of Public Health, Brown University

Former Editor, Pace University Law Review

Interests: Empowering vulnerable communities, policy advocacy, digital equity and other social determinants of health.

Bryan Yang, BS, BA, EMT-P

Professional New York City EMT and Flight Paramedic, Volunteer in community-level EMS

Dual degree holder in biology and economics

Interests: Leveraging technology in the pre-hospital healthcare setting to improve education and communication. Ensuring fiscal sustainability of community based programs.