Closing the Gap: Advancing Health Equity in Minority Communities

In recognition of National Minority Health Month, this Learning Series session will examine the persistent health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority communities across the United States and the structural factors that continue to drive unequal health outcomes. While progress has been made in expanding access to care and improving health awareness, many minority populations still face disproportionate burdens of chronic disease, limited access to quality care, and barriers rooted in historical, social, and economic inequities.

This discussion will explore how factors such as structural racism, socioeconomic conditions, geographic access to services, and gaps in representation within research and healthcare systems contribute to ongoing disparities. Panelists will also address the role of trust in healthcare, including how historical injustices and implicit bias can shape patient experiences and influence engagement with healthcare systems.

Participants will learn about emerging models of culturally responsive care that center community voice, improve communication…