Stephanie Wang Discusses the Health Disparities Think Tank

Over the past four decades the US has, per a 2019 JAMA-published study, made a “clear lack of progress on health equity.” Health equity or disparities have almost certainly worsened over the past five years due to COVID and accelerating climate breakdown. For example, air pollution in 2021 killed over 8 million globally including 2,000 children under age five daily. Foul air, nearly entirely the result of fossil fuel combustion, is 2nd only to malnutrition and hypertension as a risk factor for death among children and adults, respectively. In late May, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted only its second annual health equity conference. Conference planners however ignored air pollution - as does CMS’ “Framework for Health Equity, 2022–2032” report. (Despite the fact I’ve produced this podcast for 12 years conducting over 300 interviews this, sadly, is my first interview with a student-led research group. I welcome learning of related efforts.)

Students interested in participating in the Health Disparities Think Tank are encouraged to review their website at: https://www.hdtt.org/.

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