Gun Violence Prevention Forum

The Center for Gun Violence Prevention was formed in 2020. It develops clinical practices for hospitals, conducts research on firearm injury prevention, and mobilizes healthcare leaders. ^{3  2}

New York Hub

The flagship event takes place annually in New York City. Northwell Health has hosted the Gun Violence Prevention Forum since 2019 as part of its Raise Health series. The event brings together health care executives, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Discussions center on scaling clinical interventions, such as universal firearm risk screening and hospital-based violence-intervention programs. ^{4  5}

The Forum held its 2026 annual event on March 5. It was the seventh annual forum with the theme “Sustaining Progress.” The gathering included about 150 participants meeting in person in New York City and thousands more participating on videoconference. Sessions addressed the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics to identify at-risk populations and the role of healthcare systems in addressing firearm injuries, which the forum presents as the leading cause of death for children and teens. Michael J. Dowling, the CEO emeritus of Northwell Health, spearheaded the founding efforts. Chethan Sathya, the director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention, has been a central figure in its leadership. ^{5  1  3}

The New York hub also coordinates with regional partners, such as Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility to scale clinical gun-violence prevention strategies and legislative advocacy at the state level. ⁶

Strategic Alliances

The Gun Violence Prevention Forum extends its reach through the National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention and Safety. This group, formed in late 2022, includes executives from major health systems. Membership has grown to over 60 CEOs, with participants from organizations such as Intermountain Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital Association. ^{5  7}

One outcome of the council’s work is collaboration with the Ad Council on a national communications initiative. In 2024 to 2025, CEO Council members committed resources toward a larger $40 million goal for efforts focused on safe storage education and reducing the impact of gun violence on youth. This included the launch of the “Agree to Agree” campaign in 2025. The council has also partnered with Epic Systems to incorporate firearm safety screening tools into electronic medical records. ^{8  9}

Clinical Initiatives

The Gun Violence Prevention Forum promotes universal screening, in which emergency room and primary care providers ask patients about firearm access. Hospital-Based Violence Intervention programs provide support to victims of violence during their hospital stay to reduce the risk of retaliation or repeat injury. The forum also supports the use of data science and national databases to track firearm injury trends. ^{2  10}

Legislative Advocacy and Implementation

The Gun Violence Prevention Forum’s leadership has engaged on federal policy matters, typically supporting gun-control efforts. Participants advocated for elements of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, including funding for community-based violence intervention and expanded school mental health services. The Forum has highlighted the restoration of federal funding for firearm injury research at the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health. Beyond direct legislation, Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention has influenced hospital practices through its Gun Violence Prevention Learning Collaborative for Health Systems and Hospitals. In this collaborative, over 600 hospitals from 38 states have come together to advance best practices for firearm injury prevention. The effort has also supported the adoption of standardized clinical protocols, such as universal firearm screening, that function as “policy by proxy” within health care infrastructure. ^{11  5}

Leadership

Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention directs the Gun Violence Prevention Forum. As of March 2026, Chethan Sathya, a pediatric trauma surgeon and researcher, is the Center’s director. Michael J. Dowling, who spearheaded the Forum’s creation in 2019, transitioned to CEO emeritus of Northwell Health in late 2025 and continues to provide advisory leadership. Executive oversight is provided by Northwell Health president and CEO Dr. John D’Angelo. The National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention and Safety, a coalition of over 60 health-care executives, functions as the national advisory body. ^{12  13  14}