Foundation for Planning

This strategic plan was created with the input of several NIH working groups, including teams of staff and researchers. To ensure that stakeholders at multiple levels were involved in this strategic planning process, NIMHD gathered input from experts within and outside of NIH. A few of these foundational activities are described below.

• In FY 2012, during the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities summit, NIMHD conducted town hall meetings to collect data on critical minority health and health disparity research issues.
• In FY 2015, NIMHD led an analysis of NIH’s portfolio of minority health and health disparities research to survey the status of both fields, analyze investments, and gauge gaps in the science or supporting structures.
• During FY 2015 and FY 2016, NIMHD undertook a science visioning process to produce recommendations for advancing the fields of minority health and health disparities. Participating NIH staff and outside stakeholders suggested 10 priority recommendations each in defining etiologies and mechanisms, developing and evaluating interventions, and identifying innovative methods from a wide range of needs, to reduce disparities and improve minority health. After review by the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD), the relevant recommendations were woven into the current strategic planning efforts, which include strategies beyond the visioning process and the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework. Details are available in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) supplement New Perspectives to Advance Minority Health and Health Disparities Research.
• During FY 2018, NIMHD held three virtual sessions and four listening sessions across the country to collect community-level input for the NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan.

These activities—in coordination with NIH working groups and input from a range of NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices—were reviewed by the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD) and provide the foundation for the NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan.

Page updated March 30, 2021