Research and Prevention:  Closing the Chronic Disease Gap in Minority Populations

Capitol Hill Briefing

In conjunction with National Minority Health Month, the ASGE co-hosted, along with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Cancer Society, and the Association of Black Cardiologists, a Capitol Hill briefing on April 18 to raise awareness about the need for funding for research and prevention to close the disease gap in minority populations. Representing ASGE as a panelist at the briefing was Marta L. Davila, MD, FASGE with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where she is responsible for coordinating initiatives to promote screening and early detection of colorectal cancer throughout the state. The briefing was attended by nearly 70 Capitol Hill staff and representatives of health care organizations, and included guest appearances from Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Care Task Force, and Hall of Famer and former Washington Redskins football player Darrell Green.

Lawrence Tabak, DDS, PhD, NIH deputy directory, provided the keynote presentation, during which he covered three areas: health disparities research, inclusion of minority populations in clinical trials, and diversity of the biomedical workforce. Dr. Tabak also talked about the importance of interdisciplinary research – the joining of biomedical researchers with social and behavioral scientists – to effectively address health disparities.

The briefing was moderated by Brian D. Smedley, PhD, vice president and director of the Health Policy Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. During his opening remarks, Dr. Smedley noted that because one in two babies born in the United States are non-white, the health status of minority populations will increasingly define the nation’s health status.

Briefing Materials

• Agenda 
  
  
• Legislative Requests 
  
  
•  Factsheets
  • Research: Closing the Chronic Disease Gap in Minority Populations 
    
    
  • Prevention: Closing the Chronic Disease Gap in Minority Populations 
    
    
• Presentations
  • NIH Perspectives
    Lawrence A. Tabak, DDS, PhD
    Principal Deputy Director, NIH
    
    
  • Colorectal Cancer: How do we approach health disparities?
    Marta L. Davila, MD, FASGE
    University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
    
    
  • Hepatitis C in Minority Populations
    Andrea E. Reid, MD, MPH
    Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC
    
    
  • Informing Public Policy to Address Health Care Disparities 
    Boisey O. Barnes, MD, FACC
    Association of Black Cardiologists