Reflections from the CDC 2010 Health Equity Symposium

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a symposium entitled “Establishing a Holistic Framework to Reduce Inequities in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and Tuberculosis (TB) in the United States.” The purpose of the symposium was twofold: first, we celebrated the release of a white paper of the same name, and second, we offered exciting and engaging discussions with national experts on topics related to addressing SDH in public health practice, policy, and research. The day also included a frank discussion with senior staff members of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) and three invited speakers: Paula Braveman, MD, MPH, of the University of California, San Francisco; Scott Burris, JD, of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Johnnie “Chip” Allen, MPH, of the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, Ohio. The discussion focused on how NCHHSTP can further incorporate an SDH approach into its work. At the start of the discussion, a number of questions and challenges were posed:How does NCHHSTP convince others that achieving health equity in the U.S. should be a public health priority?In light of the fact that resources have been declining, how do we adequately address SDH?How do we address SDH in an era with increased negativity toward groups disproportionately impacted by infectious diseases (e.g., men who have sex with men, Hispanic/Latino people, and immigrants)?As NCHHSTP is a leader in infectious disease prevention, what activities should we initiate to address both SDH and their role in HIV, hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention?What changes to our surveillance and data-collection systems should we make to measure, monitor, and collect information on SDH?How do we incorporate laws into public health surveillance research?How does synergy in programs impact the individual? How do laws fit into this?Where do we begin our focus? What is the starting point? What SDH-related variables should be a priority for annual monitoring?These questions were an important starting point to better identify CDC's role in achieving health equity. This session also reiterated the need for CDC to take the lead in reducing health disparities and promoting health equity in the U.S. and abroad.