The Global Population Health Summit (GPHS), held in cooperation with the Greater New York Dental Meeting, successfully concluded its second edition, centering discussions around the theme Sustainable Population Health. The summit was also accredited by the International Congress for Health Specialties.
Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, the summit provided an invaluable platform for an extensive array of participants, including medical and health professionals, researchers, academics, public health specialists, industry leaders, policymakers, government officials, and patient advocates who share a passion for advancing global population health.
Dr. Eric Roodenbeke, the Scientific Chairman of GPHS, spearheaded the event, playing a pivotal role in fostering an environment for meaningful discussions. A distinguished figure in the healthcare landscape, he formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Hospital Federation and Senior Health Specialist for the World Health Organization.
GPHS aimed to enhance population health globally, establishing fundamental principles for a sustainable healthcare system. It also sought to develop capabilities and expertise in the healthcare sector to address the increasing challenges to sustainable population health. As a global scientific platform, GPHS facilitated evidence-based discussions, showcased innovative solutions, and provided valuable recommendations to uphold the rights, safety, dignity, continuity, and well-being of the global community.
GPHS comprised of three intricate topic discussions, the first being Develop and Monitor Sustainable Population Health Policies that Exercise the “Do no harm” Principle. Moderated by Dr. Roodenbeke, it addressed the growing tensions faced by patients seeking medical care in a fast-evolving and globalized world. Panelists included Prof. Peter Pitts, President and Co-Founder of the Center of Medicine in the Public Interest; Dr. Alexandre Ledrait, Psychologist, Psychopathologist, and Associate Professor at the Clinical Psychopathology University of Caen; and self-employed Psychiatrist Sven Román. In addressing the growing tensions faced by patients seeking medical care in a fast-evolving and globalized world, Sven Román stated: “Children and parents haven’t got informed consent because if you tell the truth as a physician, you must say there is no evidence for the treatment, and they don’t say so.” He added: “Rushing Gender Affirmative Treatment on Young Children and Adolescents Affect the Patient’s Physical and Mental Health”.
From his side Dr. Alexandre Ledrait, Psychologist, Psychopathologist and Associate Professor in Clinical Psychopathology at the university of Caen confirmed: “Treatment of Gender related issues is a long process which requires research and analysis of the patient’s background, history and the full involvement of the family for support and decision making”.
The second topic session, Media and Technology and its Effect on Mental Health, Healthy Families, and Stable Societies, was also moderated by Dr. Roodenbeke. The session explored the role of media and influencers, backed by new communication technologies, on children, adolescents, and young adults with regards to mental disorders, self-harming behaviors, addictions, and suicidal ideations. Panelists included Dr. Anna Cognet-Kayem, Psychologist and Psychoanalyst; Richard Cohen, Psychotherapist at Positive Approaches to Healthy Sexuality (PATH); and Walt Heyer, Author, Activist, and Senior Fellow at Family Research Council in D.C.
The final topic session, Long Term Strategies for Population Health to
be Inspired by Public Health Data, Scientific Research 
and Evidence, and Preserved from Influencers, was moderated by Prof.
Peter Pitts, the President and Co-founder of Center for Medicine in the
Public Interest. Prof. Peter delved into the overall population health
and prevention policies and programs that are needed to reduce the
prevalence of healthcare challenges across its spectrum. Panelists
included Stephanie Davies-Arai, Director of Transgender Trend;
Psychiatrist Sven Román; and GPHS Scientific Chairman Dr. Eric
Roodenbeke, who also provided a summary and conclusion of the event.
With regards to the high influence of social, political, and economic
environments, Prof. Peter Pitts commented: “What we heard from a variety
of different countries was very different approaches, the same
frustration that basic science is being ignored and that cultural
politics is taking the lead beyond what good medical practice should
be.” Media and social media had a big share during the discussions, as
speakers highlighted the negative effect it has on teenagers and young
individuals in general. The speakers unanimously agreed that social
media can cause a great damage to teenagers’ personality and might have
a great effect on them taking irrational decisions. Moreover, they
assured that false information disseminated on social media targets
individuals of all ages, which exacerbates mental and psychological
health problems aimed at weakening the family structure, and leading to
the emergence of gender related issues.
As the summit concluded, the speakers announced the New York 2023 Declaration for Sustainable Population Health, committing to persistently promote sustainable population health and awareness and advance medical knowledge, research, and innovation for the benefit of humanity.
Participants in GPHS were recognized for their dedication with three CERP CE credits from the Greater New York Dental Meeting and seven CME credits from the International Congress for Health Specialties – ICHS, which is based in the United Kingdom.
To conclude the second edition of the summit, the speakers and participants deliberated and agreed that there is a need to protect and develop the healthcare system to provide the possible care to patients facing gender-related issues and psychological co-morbidities, while raising their awareness of the best possible treatment, which can be determined by healthcare professionals. Based on this identification, it was agreed to publish the New York Declaration for Sustainable Population Health.
New York Declaration for Sustainable Population Health
The second edition of the Global Population Health Summit was held in cooperation with the Greater New York Dental Meeting, accredited by the International Congress for Health Specialties – ICHS and under the theme “Sustainable Population Health”. The summit aims to discuss on improving the level of population health and establishing essential global fundamentals for a sustainable healthcare system, as well as to identify capabilities and expertise in the healthcare sector to tackle the rising challenges to sustainable population health. The Summit serves as a global scientific platform to support evidence-based discussions, present solutions and recommendations to maintain the rights, safety, dignity, continuity, and well-being of the global community.
To conclude the second edition of the summit, the speakers and participants deliberated and agreed that there is a need to protect and develop the healthcare system in order to provide the possible care to patients facing gender-related issues and psychological co-morbidities, while raising their awareness of the best possible treatment, which can be determined by healthcare professionals. On the basis of this identification, it was agreed to publish the New York Declaration for Sustainable Population Health.
Individuals suffering from gender identity issues are entitled to efficient healthcare that will help them to alleviate their suffering and find a path to acceptable treatment which will provide long-term benefits.
The following statements constitute the declaration.
Statement 1 - Policy and Strategy
- Develop a safe platform for scientific research, discussions and treatments to provide better care and enhance population health for gender related issues.
- Enhance communication and workflows between government, law and policy makers, operators, regulators and insurance on medical treatments, and research for new approaches and to strengthen evidence based clinical practice.
Statement 2 - Scientific Research, Analysis and Evidence Based Treatment
- Treatment of Gender related issues is a long process which requires research and analysis of the patient’s background, history and the full involvement of the family for support and decision making.
- Rushing gender affirmative treatment on young children and adolescents can result in long-term and permanent effects that will affect the patient’s physical and mental health while the physical growth process is not yet completed.
- There is a need to set up a clinical register for patients that have undergone gender affirmative treatment that will gather data on a national level to help refine research and develop future treatments.
Statement 3 - Media & Technology
- Regulate and maintain robust communication of truthful and accurate science and useful consumer information including public health campaigns from trusted sources by enforcing the need to provide evidence-based information to protect young people from ideologies and fake information that would contribute to the increase in gender related challenges and worsening mental health burdens while weakening the role of families.
- Educate children, young people and vulnerable adults in media literacy and development of critical thinking skills.
Statement 4 - Societal, Cultural, Political & Academia
- The influence by lobbyist which can be driven by commercial benefits on the treatment course of patients with gender dysphoria and related mental health conditions must be better identified and controlled.
- There is a need for parents, healthcare professionals, academic institutions across its spectrum and governments to better work together to educate parents and patients on blockers, hormones, gender re-assignment surgeries and other treatment courses in order to make a better-informed decision, as such treatments are not reversible and have recognized long term negative side effects deteriorating patient’s health status. This multisectoral cooperation is also critical; to overcome the challenges posed by emerging societal trends exacerbating gender and mental health related issues
Final Statement
The healthcare professionals and speakers participating in the summit concluded through their evidence based scientific discussions, that more protection is needed for families and society from extreme beliefs that cause harm. In particular, false information disseminated in the media across different platforms targeting individuals of all ages, which exacerbates mental and psychological health problems aimed at weakening the family structure, and leading to the emergence of gender related issues.
Therefore, joint efforts are required by parents, doctors, academic institutions and governments to enhance research, protect healthcare and education systems and schools, enabling them to reduce the challenges that young people are facing in relation to gender identity disorders.