Keeping up with the literature and the experts

One of the reasons that IAMMM plans to continue this blog and other educational venues throughout the year between our first and second annual MLKjr Health Equity Summits, is that no single meeting can cover every relevant subject and issue. The May 2011 issue of the journal Health Affairs, which is totally dedicated to environmental challenges for health, is a case in point. In her introductory comment, entitled "Embarking on a New Course: Environmental Health Coverage", editor Susan Dentzer, recognizing the stimulus provided by a supportive Kresge Foundation grant, introduces this major commitment to the most wide-ranging, complex and challenging of all the various threats to our population's health. She begins by saying, "Our nation's approach to health and health care is so famously siloed that we've long neglected the obvious: The environment plays a role in nearly 85 percent of all disease."
She concludes as follows, "Authors in this issue propose major policy changes, including updating the Toxic Substances Control Act and removing incentives for producing unhealthy food. Requiring state and federal 'health impact assessments' in a 'health in all policies' approach would seem a reasonable starting point." Several of the published articles touch upon the health disparities dimensions of the envirnmental health problems, particularly that authored by Rachel Morello-Frosch et al, "Cumulative Effects on Racial and Ethnic Minorities" and another on "Unique Vulnerabilities of Children" byP. Landgren and L. Goldman.
It is clear that much of the health disparities problem resides in the area covered within this ground-breaking issue and those of us committed to analyzing health policies as they relate to disparities must take note of and follow carefully what this impoprtant health policy journal has put on its major "To-Do List". This is yet another reason why we are fortunate in having Susan Dentzer pllaying such a prominent role in our Summit and its outcomes.