National Minority Health Month 2016: A Presidential Message

National Minority Health Month 2016: A Presidential Message

April 20, 2016

By: J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health; Director, HHS Office of Minority Health

Earlier this month, the HHS Office of Minority Health kicked off the nation’s observance of National Minority Health Month and the 30^th anniversary of the HHS Office of Minority Health with a historic HealthEquity Forum at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington, DC.  The Forum highlighted initiatives underway by the Obama Administration and HHS to reduce disparities and further efforts to accelerate health equity and expand opportunity for all.  We had a great turnout, with nearly 200 people attending the Forum and more than a thousand individuals watching online.

As an issue of national importance, attendees heard critical messages about the path forward to accelerate health equity from White House Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson, Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, Health and Human Services Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Karen B. DeSalvo, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and myself.  They also heard an important message from President Barack Obama about working to close “health care gaps that leave communities behind.”  Read the full message here.
READ MORE: National Minority Health Month 2016: A Presidential Message