The Journey

It was in 1986, 30 years ago, that a group of individuals of color, members the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) study section of NIGMS, came together in a small hotel room in Bethesda, Maryland to discuss the release of The Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health and where should we go from here. I left that room inspired to do something that was said to be impossible; bring all Americans together to address a health issue as one unit in a biopsychosocial approach. Given that I was at the largest cancer center in America, the focus became cancer. and why not a cancer research and an educational symposium focused on the hard to reach. It also meant working to get Congress and the Reagan White House to recognize the need for such an effort. It was with the help of former Congress Mervyn Dymally and the late Senator Lloyd Bensten that in April 1987 both Houses of Congress passed House Joint Resolution 119 and then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan that the third full week in April for hence forth be designated as “National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (NMCAW). It was on Easter Sunday that the Houston Chronicle published the first editorial on health disparities entitled, "Cancer is an Equal Opportunity Disease." Almost 30 years later, cancer is still an equal opportunity disease. From the Biennial Symposium Series, to the ICC to CHEER and now HDEART, the mission to address health inequities.

I am also proud to have been involved in the formation of the DHHS Regional Health Equity Councils (RHECs) and now serve as the chair of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Committee of the Southwest RHEC. Feeling blessed to have and continue to be a part of this movement to address inequities.

With that, registration for the 14th Annual Disparities in Health in America: Working Toward Social Justice Workshop at the University of Houston Downtown is now online at www.hdeartconsortium.org. Just click on the box at the upper right hand corner. Hope to see you there.