Executive Vice President's Report

"I have gladly relinquished my EVP Report to Dr. Rogers Cain this month to further discuss Health Disparities." - Philip H. Gilbert, Executive Vice President

Issues and Solutions in Minority Health

Rogers Cain, M.D.

In beginning a new millennium, reducing health care disparities is one of the major challenges facing the nations entire health care industry. The most precious asset a person or a community can have is its health, so the challenge of resolving the issues of disease related health disparities must be met head on by all of us. The National Institute of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993 was enacted to address the issues of gender and ethnic disparities. Since its inception, a multifaceted effort has been undertaken to increase minority representation in clinical research. However, important disparities still remain that can potentially threaten the health and safety of underrepresented patient populations.

The Northeast Florida Medical Society (NEFMS) and the National Medical Association (NMA) is concerned with the lack of minority representation at all levels of biomedical research. To this end, the executive board of the NEFMS has elected to adopt several key recommendations from the NMA and will advocate the following:

• Educating and encouraging minority physicians to become clinical trial investigators;
• Applying political pressure to achieve the passage of laws that promote racial and ethnic equality in healthcare;
• Promoting out-reach programs to educate and recruit clinical research subjects for minority communities;
• And advocating ethical practices in clinical research.

In addition, the NEFMS advocates the formation of alliances with various community agencies, other health care providers, and the various political entities that also sees the need to reduce health care disparities in the community we serve.

The NEFMS convened the first in a series of Summits to focus on the six major areas in Primary care targeted by the Healthy People 2010 mandate (Cardiovascular Health, Infectious Diseases/HIV, Immunization, Diabetes & Obesity, Cancer, and Mental Health). The following updates were presented at the summit:

• The best science available (etiology, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, prevention).
• The barriers that prevent the translation of the best science to practice for individuals and communities.
• Recommendations on how to close these gaps in their individual practices and the communities in which they serve.

It is our hope that each symposium attendee left with a renewed commitment and a more defined role in their individual efforts in reducing the burden of health care disparities in the communities they serve.

Jacksonville Medicine / March, 2001

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