On October 19th, join us for UCLA Center for Healthcare Management's first Paul Torrens Health Forum of the 2022-2023 academic year!
Gun violence is a leading cause of premature death in the U.S. Guns kill more than 38,000 people and cause nearly 85,000 injuries each year, equating to 100 deaths and 230 injuries EVERY day. The scale and complexity of the challenge cannot be understated. A public health approach could be a key way to address different aspects – by strengthening civic organizations, maintaining pressure on elected officials, advancing research on gun violence, and addressing aspects of prevention. As we have returned to in-person events, please join us for networking and a moderated panel of gun violence and safety experts to talk about the strides we have made and the hurdles yet to overcome!
Panelists:
Brian Malte, Executive Director, Hope and Heal Fund
Brian Malte is a nationally recognized leader in the gun violence prevention movement. Over the course of his 25-year career, Brian has led community-based movements as well as strategic political campaigns for sensible gun reforms.
In 2001, Brian joined the Washington, D.C. office of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. First as National Field Director, then Political Director, and lastly as National Policy Director, Brian became one of the country’s most familiar spokesmen for the burgeoning gun violence prevention movement. In 2016 he returned to his California roots to helm the Hope and Heal Fund to spearhead the philanthropic movement to increase support to local violence prevention organizations and community advocates working to end gun violence.
Brian has been a featured speaker at many state and national conferences and routinely provides expert analysis to news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NPR, and Mother Jones. For more information on Brian and to read his blogs please visit hopeandhealfund.org.
Dr. Ninez Ponce, Director UCLA Center for Health Policy Research; Fred W. and Pamela K. Wasserman Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management
Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP, is the director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and principal investigator of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), which has been recognized as a national model for data collection on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and immigrant health. Ponce also serves as professor and chair of the department of health policy and management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Joshua Stepakoff, Board Member and Speaker, Women Against Gun Violence
In 1999, at the age of 6, Josh Stepakoff was shot in the North Valley Jewish Community Center shooting. Today, he speaks out on behalf of gun regulation and hopes to spread awareness about the long-term effects of Gun Violence. Since then he has become an activist and works with Women Against Gun Violence where he serves as a board member and a member of their Speakers Bureau. Josh has a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. He speaks regularly to students, media, and politicians about the long term effects of gun violence and PTSD. He lives in Southern California with his wife and 2 daughters.
Kelly Fischer, Deputy Director Office of Violence Prevention, LA County Department of Public Health
Kelly Fischer has dedicated her public health career to building and supporting community-driven approaches to public safety. During her 14 years with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she has helped to build the evidence base for Parks After Dark, led a team of staff and community and county partners to implement the Trauma Prevention Initiative, a place-based violence prevention and intervention initiative, and helped to develop the strategic plan and operational infrastructure for the LA County Office of Violence Prevention. She has a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology.