Northwell Health’s Gun Violence Prevention Forum: Spotlighting progress

Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and other leaders, health care executives, clinicians, researchers, and community members look to accelerate success in curbing gun violence nationwide

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Last year, the United States saw some of the lowest levels of gun violence on record, but there is more work to be done. As part of Northwell Health’s Raise Health series – which convenes bold thinkers twice a year to spark dialogue and drive action on today’s most pressing health care challenges – the spring 2026 Gun Violence Prevention Forum will bring together leaders from industry, health care, science and the community to highlight progress and accelerate scalable solutions nationwide. The Forum will take place on March 5 at 9 a.m. ET. The hybrid event will welcome 150 attendees in person in New York City, while others can register to attend the Forum virtually at www.PreventGunViolence.com.

“In the emergency room, I’ve seen the raw, devastating consequences of gun violence firsthand – lives cut short and families torn apart,” said John D’Angelo, MD, president and CEO of Northwell, who will also give closing remarks to the Forum. “We’ve made progress, but the gun violence crisis demands our sustained, collective commitment. We cannot afford to lose momentum. We need to build safer environments for everyone.”

The Forum began in 2019, spearheaded by Michael J. Dowling, Northwell’s CEO emeritus, who will deliver the opening remarks. Its initial goal was to frame gun violence as a public health emergency and spur action. Since then, a collective effort by lawmakers, nonprofits and local health systems has successfully begun to bend the gun violence curve across the nation.

“Curbing gun violence requires more than just good intentions; it demands unified action from every sector. That’s why this Forum brings together the best minds in business, health care, research and community leadership,” said Mr. Dowling. “Our strength lies in our collaboration, in sharing insights and in committing to scalable, evidence-based solutions that can be implemented nationwide. It’s our collective responsibility, and together, we can make a lasting difference.”

During a special address, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch will speak about law enforcement’s role and need for partnership to help keep the momentum going. Throughout the day, leaders will explore case studies, sharing strategies that are making a measurable difference in reducing gun violence, drawing invaluable lessons that can be replicated in other cities across the country and highlighting how to sustain progress over time. To amplify this impact and further collaboration, this year’s agenda will feature notable speakers, including:

• Rob Allen, president & CEO, Intermountain Health
• Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, editor in chief, JAMA
• Kevin Clayton, executive vice president, chief impact and equity officer, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment
• Nancy Fishman, senior director, Criminal Justice Grantmaking, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
• Jackie Gerhart, chief medical officer, Epic Systems
• Gabby Giffords, former congresswoman; co-founder, GIFFORDS
• Michelle Hillman, chief campaign and program officer, The Ad Council
• Soledad McGrath, program director, Gun Violence Prevention and Justice Reform, The Joyce Foundation
• Gregory Neal Jackson Jr., former deputy director of White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention; president, The Rocket Foundation
• John MacPhee, chief executive officer, The Jed Foundation
• Nicholas Suplina, senior vice president, Law and Policy, Everytown for Gun Safety
• Myesha Watkins, administrator, Office of Violence Prevention; Public Safety and Justice Services, Cuyahoga County
• Rob Wilcox, former deputy director of White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention; president and CEO, Fund for a Safer Future
• Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness

“From a clinical and public health perspective, gun violence remains a preventable epidemic that demands our immediate, evidence-based interventions,” said Chethan Sathya, MD, director of Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention and pediatric trauma surgeon. “Our goal is to examine what’s working, share those insights, and collectively speed up the implementation of programs that will truly bend the curve of violence and save lives across our nation.”

Conversations will tackle the complex landscape of gun violence from every angle, spanning practical prevention strategies like firearm safety, safe storage, suicide prevention, mental health care, and vital community-based solutions such as violence intervention and outreach programs, hospital-based initiatives, innovative policing strategies, and fostering youth engagement and employment pathways. Speakers will examine how cutting-edge tools like AI, data and technology, alongside effective screening protocols and strategic public health messaging, can significantly fast-track progress.

Northwell has led the charge to address gun violence as a public health crisis since 2019. Through Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention, the health system continues to invest in gun violence research, including screening emergency room patients about their risk of gun violence and whether they have a weapon in their home, and if it is stored safely. In 2022, Northwell created the National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention & Safety, which now includes 60 leaders of some of the nation’s largest health systems and hospitals.

For more information about this year’s Gun Violence Prevention Forum program and speakers and to register your virtual attendance, please visit: www.PreventGunViolence.com.

About Northwell Health
Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 104,000 employees – including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices – who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.