Joint Center Sees Social Determinants of Health as Key to Reducing Disparities at Annual Fund-raising Gala

Joint Center Sees Social Determinants of Health as Key to Reducing Disparities at Annual Fund-raising Gala

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is highlighting the need to target social determinants of health in order to reduce disparities and achieve greater health equity. "Health and longevity are inextricably linked to socioeconomic status," said Ralph B. Everett, the Joint Center's President and CEO. "Given these underlying social determinants, most health inequities are avoidable," he added.

The Joint Center's Health Policy Institute (HPI) sponsored a panel discussion on this topic on Tuesday as part of the spring proceedings of the Congressional Black Caucus' Health Braintrust. This session was held in conjunction with public broadcasts of the new PBS series "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" The PBS series investigates how health and longevity are correlated with class status and the additional risk burden imposed by racism.

"We want to give policymakers and citizens the tools they need to remove the barriers to equitable healthcare in this country," stated Gina Wood, HPI's Deputy Director. "As the PBS series underscores, the solution for health disparities lies not in more pills, but in tackling our growing inequality," she emphasized.

California Newsreel, producer of the PBS series on "Unnatural Causes", joined Deputy Director Wood from the Joint Center's HPI as well as speakers for the One Economy Corporation and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) in today's panel discussion. This session explored many social determinants of health that underpin health inequities throughout the continuum of life.

"Unnatural Causes" is being shown Thursday nights at 10 p.m. on many PBS stations. Check local listings.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is one of the nation's premier research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color.

For further information about the Joint Center, please visit the website at: http://www.jointcenter.org/

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Source: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

CONTACT: Felicia Eaves, +1-202-789-3530, feaves@jointcenter.org, or
Betty Anne Williams, +1-202-789-3505, bawilliams@jointcenter.org, both of the
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Web Site: http://www.jointcenter.org/

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