In The News

Disparities Report Highlights Health Care Challenges For Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Underscores importance of Affordable Care Act efforts to improve health care quality and access

April 20, 2012

The latest National Healthcare Disparities Report released today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows that access to health care was not improving for most racial and ethnic groups in the years 2002 through 2008 leading up to enactment of the Affordable Care Act.

The data contained in the National Healthcare Disparities Report and the companion National Healthcare Quality Report predate the Affordable Care Act; however, some provisions in the new health care law are aimed at improving health care quality and addressing health care disparities. The HHS Action Plan to Reduce Health Disparities, announced in April 2011, outlines goals and actions HHS will take to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities, building on important efforts made possible by the Affordable Care Act and other ongoing private-sector and state-led initiatives.

"The health care law's groundbreaking policies will reduce health disparities identified in the report and help achieve health equity," said Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. director of AHRQ. "We are releasing the report during National Minority Health Month to raise awareness about the steps being taken to help ensure every American receives safe and appropriate health care to help them achieve their best possible health."

The congressionally mandated disparities and quality reports, which AHRQ has produced annually since 2003, are based on over 40 different national sources that collect data regularly. Today's reports, which include about 250 health care measures, show the persistent challenges in access to care faced by most racial and ethnic groups. Fifty percent of the measures that tracked disparities in health care access showed no improvement between the years 2002 and 2008, while 40 percent of those measures were getting worse.

Specifically, for 2002 through 2008, Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives experienced worse access to care than Whites on more than 60 percent of the access measures, while African Americans experienced worse access on slightly more than 30 percent of the access measures. Asian Americans experienced worse access to care than non-Latino Whites on only 17 percent of the access measures.

The 2011 National Healthcare Quality Report, also issued today, tracks the health care system through quality measures such as the percentage of adult smokers who received advice from a provider to quit or the percentage of children who received recommended vaccinations. Based on the same data and measures used in the disparities report, the congressionally mandated quality report found that overall health care quality improved slowly for the general population between the years 2002 and 2008. Both reports will serve to track progress on the Affordable Care Act in the future.

To view the National Healthcare Quality Report and National Healthcare Disparities Report, visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr11.htm. In addition, AHRQ's NHQRDRnet is an online query system that allows you to access national and State data on the quality of, and access to, health care from scientifically credible measures and data sources. To use the interactive tool, visit: http://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov.

Editor's Note: The Affordable Care Act includes provisions that will greatly improve the health of all Americans, including racial and ethnic minorities. The law increases access to affordable health insurance coverage and high-quality care, invests in prevention and wellness, and supports improvements in primary care.

To learn more about the health care law, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov.

 
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The 2012 Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities is now accepting abstracts for program sessions. All abstracts must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 15, 2012. The abstract submission website will be available within the next few days with more detailed information. You will receive a follow-up e-mail as soon as the site is available for abstract submissions.

 The Summit is organized around the core principle of integrating science, policy, and practice, and offers a forum to advance scholarship and translate new knowledge into action.

 Presentation Categories

Abstracts will be accepted in three categories: posters, oral presentations, and integrated panel presentations. Applicants may submit abstracts to more than one category, but each submission must be based on a separate research project. Additional information about each category is available below.

Poster Presentations

Abstracts accepted in this category will be presented during the poster session on either November 1^st or November 2^nd, 2012. You will receive further details about the scheduled presentation date if your abstract is accepted.

Word Limit: Please limit poster abstracts to 300 words.

Oral Presentations

Oral presentations will take place in a roundtable panel format. Each panel will have an assigned moderator in order to promote dialogue and stimulate discussion. Abstracts that are accepted for oral presentations will be presented as concurrent sessions.  There is also the option of submitting an abstract in this category with the option to be considered for a poster presentation if the abstract is not accepted for oral presentation.

 Word Limit: Please limit oral presentation abstracts to 300 words.

Integrated Panel Presentations

Integrated panel presentations are designed to allow a group of presenters from diverse disciplines (i.e., Science, Practice, and Policy) to discuss health disparities and related findings on a similar theme. Abstracts for this category should focus on science, practice, policy, and include a community component or discuss societal issues that influence health disparities.

 Word Limit: Please limit integrated panel presentation abstracts to 500 words. This should also include the presentation title for each panelist.

 Presentation Tracks

Proposals, regardless of category, should also fall under one of three tracks:

Track 1: Translational and Transdisciplinary Research

These presentations should promote the integration of science, practice and policy.

 Science or research abstracts might include basic and applied, health services, patient-oriented, epidemiological, environmental, behavioral, and social sciences research related to health disparities.

• Policy-oriented abstracts delve into policies linked to health or healthcare, or other areas impacting health such as public, social, and economic policies.
• Practice abstracts examine public health practice related to community health, healthcare, or social services delivery, and education and training.

Applicants must clearly articulate how findings lead to new knowledge in science, practice, or policy interventions in health disparities. For example, policy abstracts should include the scientific evidence or practice concept that led to the policy. If the submission is a science abstract, then applicants should indicate how the science translates into either practice or policy.

 Themes: The following themes fall under Track 1: Translational and Transdisciplinary Research

• Integrating Biological, Social, Behavioral and Environmental Determinants of Health
• Health Disparity Populations, Disease Conditions and Risk Factors
• Primary Prevention and Health
• Discrimination, Racism and Stress
• Healthcare Disparities and Quality Research
• Best Practices and Approaches for Community Engagement
• Health Information Technology
• Global Population Health
  
  Track 2: Capacity-Building and Infrastructure

Abstracts submitted under Track 2: Capacity-Building and Infrastructure, will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with building capacity for research, public health and primary care practice, services delivery, training, and education. These presentations will also investigate the implementation and sustainability of infrastructure and economic development in disparate communities.

 Themes: The following themes fall under Track 2: Capacity-Building and Infrastructure 

• Multi-sectoral Capacity-Building
• Health Workforce
• Community Capacity-Building and Sustainable Economic Development
• Data and Research Evaluation

Track 3: Outreach, Partnerships, Collaborations, and Opportunities

Eliminating health disparities requires effective outreach, partnerships, and collaborations across federal agencies, academic institutions, foundations, non-profit and private organizations.  Track 3: Outreach, Partnerships, Collaborations, and Opportunities, provides a venue for representatives from various agencies and organizations to showcase their innovative partnerships, outreach, and dissemination efforts, including successful collaborations on addressing health disparities.

 Themes: The following themes fall under Track 3: Outreach, Partnerships, Collaborations, and Opportunities

 Public Public-Private Partnerships

• Community Partnerships
• Outreach Dissemination
• Global Health Networks General Guidelines
• Abstracts will be peer reviewed
• Authors must select the track and theme under which their abstracts should be considered. Abstracts may be submitted under only one Summit theme, and must be related to one or more of the topics listed under the selected theme.
• General selection criteria will be based on: (1) quality of abstract; (2) implications for health disparities research, policy, or practice, or its application; (3) new insights for health disparities research or its application; (4) clarity and completeness of abstract; and (5) relevance to specified theme.
• Applicants may submit abstracts to more than one category, but each submission must come from a distinct research project.
• All abstract submissions are final, no changes or modifications will be permitted.

 Abstract Awards/Recognition: Abstracts will be considered for recognition in the following award categories: outstanding scientific poster, outstanding policy poster, outstanding public health practice poster, outstanding clinical practice poster, and outstanding community-based health disparities research or intervention poster. Early investigators, junior faculty, community researchers, and policy professionals are eligible for recognition. More details to come.

Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity Sponsors Black History Celebration
and Health & Wellness Event

Dr. Ronny Bell and Keith Grandberry, President
and CEO of the Winston-Salem Urban League  

The Winston-Salem Urban League recently announced the 2012 Black History MonthCelebration and Health and WellnessEvent that will take place on Thursday, February 23^rd beginning at 8:30 AM. The daylong celebration includes an array of activities featuring Movie Clips with narration of Classic Black Movies and a Serenade of Music originated by African- Americans.  The audience will be taken on a musical journey with performances of Ragtime, Blues, Jazz and Gospel Music.  Prominent historians and community leaders will lead conversations about Blacks in the Military, The Role of the African- American Church in Black Life, and The impact of The Masons, Eastern Star, Fraternities and Sororities in African- American culture.  A highlight of the day will be special presentations recalling the experiences of the first black firemen entitled: Baptism by Fire -Engine 4; The Safe Bus Company, the largest black owned bus company in the country, and Mr. George Black, The Brick Maker. In view of the enormous health disparities among African- Americans and other minorities, health screenings will be conducted throughout the day by partnering medical professionals or Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The goal of this component is to help educate and inform members of the community about illnesses that are preventable and treatable if properly diagnosed.

The events will culminate with Dinner Theater featuring the play: Jessie & Lucy, written and produced by Garrett Davis a local playwright.  This production will take you back down memory lane to the late 60's when times were beginning to get better for African- Americans. This production is one of the funniest stage plays ever by award winning playwright Garrett Davis as Jessie and features a stellar performance by Tony Award Nominee Samantha McSwain.

In addition to the play, the audience will enjoy a 3 course meal prepared and served by an executive chef. The program is designed to educate, inform and increase awareness of the outstanding contributions of local African- American heroes.  “Winston-Salem has a rich history of Black life that dates back to the early 1800’s and on the occasion of Black History Month it is important that we pay tribute to those who made great sacrifices and paved the way”. “In addition to celebrating our history, the Urban League is committed to improving the quality of health in our community. Therefore, we will offer health screenings and information in partnership with the event sponsor, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, to better inform the audience about health risks” said Keith Grandberry, Urban League President and CEO.  (read more about the event)

Voices of African American Health: Stories of Health and Healing  

Abstract

 Global Impact Corps: Global Health Volunteer Abroad Opportunity

http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

Join Unite For Sight’s Global Impact Corps for a hands-on, immersive global health experience.  A transformative volunteer abroad experience for students and professionals, Unite For Sight is renowned as the highest quality global health immersion and volunteer abroad program worldwide. Unite For Sight prides itself on offering the best global health experience for our volunteers, coupled with the highest quality healthcare delivery programs with our partners.

Locations of Year-Round Health Care Delivery: Ghana, Honduras, and India
(volunteer for 7 days, 15 days, 20 days, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, or more)

What do Unite For Sight volunteers do?  Our Global Impact Corps volunteers come from very diverse backgrounds, including those interested in public health, medicine, international development, social entrepreneurship, and the social sciences. While volunteering abroad, they support and learn from the partner clinics' talented medical professionals who are social entrepreneurs addressing complex global health issues.  Global Impact Fellows gain a comprehensive understanding about the complexities and realities of global health, social entrepreneurship, and international development.

Global Impact Fellow volunteers work with local doctors to eliminate patient barriers to care for patients living in extreme poverty.  They assist with patient education, visual acuity screening, patient intake, distributing the glasses and medication prescribed by the local eye doctors, and other important support tasks.  They also have the opportunity to observe the surgeries provided by the local doctors.  Additionally, volunteers may participate in the Global Impact Lab, an optional program for those interested in pursuing global health research. For example, we currently have volunteers pursuing research studies about medication management, the use of visual resources for patient education, traditional medicine practices, and patient barriers to care.

What do volunteers say? "I gained a vast basin of knowledge not only about eye health, but also on the healthcare infrastructure, patient interactions, and management systems of the developing world. Reading about health issues in the news or in class became stark reality during my summer in Dhenkanal, and I now aim to reinvigorate my efforts to study and contribute to the field of international health." Pallavi Basu, Global Impact Fellow.  See more volunteer accounts at http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad/volunteer-accounts

Complete details online at http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

HHS/National Institutes of Health: Health Promotion Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Males (R21).

Purpose.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grant applications from applicants that propose to stimulate and expand research in the health of minority men. Specifically, this initiative is intended to: 1) enhance our understanding of the numerous factors (e.g., sociodemographic, community, societal, personal) influencing the health promoting behaviors of racial and ethnic minority males and their subpopulations across the life cycle, and 2) encourage applications focusing on the development and testing of culturally and linguistically appropriate health-promoting interventions designed to reduce health disparities among racially and ethnically diverse males and their subpopulations age 21 and older.  

NIMHD Social, Behavioral, Health Services, and Policy Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01) Grant

LOI:  May 11; Application due: June 11

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit innovative social, behavioral, health services, and policy research that can directly and demonstrably contribute to the elimination of health disparities. Projects may involve primary data collection or secondary analysis of existing datasets. Projects that examine understudied health conditions; examine the effectiveness of interventions, services, or policies for multiple health disparity populations; and/or directly measure the impact of project activities on levels of health disparities are particularly encouraged.

NIMHD Basic and Applied Biomedical Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01) Grant

LOI: May 4; Application due: June 4

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is issued by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to solicit innovative grant applications on:

1. Biological and genetic research to explore disease mechanisms or pathways that influence health outcomes in minority and health disparity populations.

2. Clinical and translational research linking basic science discovery with effective treatment or clinical practice.

The overall goal of this initiative is to enhance our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms involved in disease conditions and develop therapies or interventions that can directly or demonstrably contribute to the elimination of health disparities.

Biological, genetic, clinical and translational research projects investigating the etiology, physiology, genetic risk factors, molecular pathways, gene-environmental interactions, pharmacogenomic and personalized medicine in health disparity populations are particularly encouraged.

Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health: Connecting the Dots

Achieving health equity requires reaching beyond the clinic and into communities. In this short video, the AAMC’s Diversity Policy and Programs division shines a spotlight on the social determinants of health and how they shape an individual’s opportunity for quality health and healthcare. The goal is to inspire changes that lead to the elimination of health disparities.  Click here for video.

Z. SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION
Racial Equity Initiative 
Request for Letters of Interest 
Submit letters of interest by March 1, 2012 to LaRita Bell (larita@zsr.org)

For the past several years, the Foundation has had a keen interest in increasing racial inclusion in our grantees primarily by promoting diversity of representation among their staff and board members.  The Foundation’s grant making policies reflect the belief that organizational performance is greatly enhanced when people with different backgrounds and perspectives are engaged in an organization’s activities and decision-making processes.  As many organizations have expanded their work to increase racial diversity and inclusion, the Foundation has sharpened its focus on racial equity as a cross-cutting priority and a path to growth for individuals, communities, and the entire state. 

To that end, the Foundation seeks opportunities to increase the capacity of our grantees to have a greater impact in:

• Serving low-income communities of color.
• Including people of color in organizational and community decision making
• Decreasing racial disparities and increasing racial equity in the organization’s areas of influence. 

For more information click here.

HEALTH CAREER CONNECTION

HCC is a nationwide non-profit dedicated to increasing opportunities for students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds to discover and realize their full potential through rewarding health careers and to increase diversity in the health professions.

HCC Summer Internship program

 Ten-week, full-time paid summer internship

 Professional development workshops

 Exposure to health care management and public health career paths  

HCC provides undergraduate students with:

 Practical exposure and work experience

 Knowledge, skills and connections to help students know how to get from where they are to where they want to be

 Professional and leadership development to become effective health leaders and professionals

 Mentoring from experienced health organization leaders and HCC team

 Workshops with and connections to leading public health and medical schools

 Peer and HCC Alumni networking opportunities

To learn more and apply online click here.

GAIN VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE HEALTH FIELD!

Health Career Connection Paid Summer Internship

 HCC is seeking undergraduates from all academic disciplines interested in pursuing careers in:

Public Health                                          Nursing Administration
Health Education                                     Environmental Health
Health Policy & Management                  Health Information Technology

Click here for program details

Gregory Burke, M.D., M.Sc., Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, has received the 2011 Epidemiology and Prevention Distinguished Achievement Award from The American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention.   

This award recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the affairs of the scientific council over a continuing period and have made substantial professional contributions to the field represented by the council. These contributions include bringing new knowledge to the field, teaching or providing clinical care in the field and professional leadership in national or international organizations.

Burke was presented with this award in early November during the Council's Business Meeting and Awards Reception in Orlando, Fla.

Dr. Burke is an affiliate of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity. 

American Academy of Dermatology's Diversity Mentorship Program – Applications open!

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) invites first through fourth-year medical students from underrepresented* backgrounds to apply for the Diversity Mentorship Program. This is a great opportunity for those interested in gaining direct exposure and hands-on experience in the field of dermatology.

Patricia L. Turner, MD, FACS, Named Director of American College of Surgeons Division of Member Services

CHICAGO: Patricia L. Turner, MD, FACS, will become the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Director of the Division of Member Services on December 1. She is succeeding Paul E. Collicott, MD, FACS, who retired in May 2011. A general surgeon from Baltimore, MD, Dr. Turner is an associate professor of surgery in the division of general surgery at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

The ACS Division of Member Services is responsible for the evaluation process that ensures a surgeon’s education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct are consistent with the standards established and demanded for Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons. The division also administers the application process for surgery residents, medical students, and allied health care professionals who seek ACS membership. Moreover, the division is responsible for administering the activities of the ACS Board of Governors, the ACS Advisory Councils for the Surgical Specialties, and for liaison activities with local ACS chapters. Several scholarship and fellowship programs are administered through the Division of Member Services, as well as the ACS Operation Giving Back Program, a volunteerism initiative established to reflect the humanitarian tenets central to the profession of surgery. The Division is also responsible for maintaining all of the College’s international activities. (continued)

Congratulations to Michael Kennedy for receiving  his Master degree in Business Administrative (MBA) from Winston Salem State University.  Michael is the Financial Analyst for the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity and lives in Kernersville, NC with his wife Kim and two sons Brandon (age 5) and Ethan (age 2).