National Minority Health Month, April 2018

National Minority Health Month is an opportunity to renew our commitment to reduce health disparities and improve the health status of minority populations. National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress in 2002, with a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 388) that “a National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month should be established to promote educational efforts on the health problems currently facing minorities and other populations experiencing health disparities.” The resolution encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing health disparities.”

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) leads the observance of National Minority Health Month. Their 2018 theme is “Partnering for Health Equity." Throughout April, HHS OMH will lead with their partners in raising awareness about efforts across health, education, justice, housing, transportation and employment sectors to address the factors known as the social determinants of health – environmental, social and economic conditions that impact health.

The NIH will commemorate National Minority Health Month with several events:

Minority Health 5K Walk/Run (NIH Main Campus)
April 11, 2018, NIH Campus, Building 1
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Follow at #MinorityHealth5K

NIMHD, in collaboration with the NIH Office of Research Services and the Recreation and Welfare Association Fitness and Wellbeing Program, is hosting a Minority Health 5K Walk/Run. All NIH staff are invited to walk or run around the perimeter of the NIH campus (approximately 3.25 miles from start to finish) – rain or shine. Please remember to bring your HHS/NIH ID Badge for campus reentry during the event.
NIMHD Twitter Chat
April 18, 2018
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
Follow at #HealthEquityChat
NIMHD will host a Twitter Chat with other federal partners on the topic “Partnering for Health Equity.”
NIMHD/NLM Science Day with Mentoring in Medicine, Inc.
April 25, 2018, NIH Campus
All day
Invitation only event

NIMHD and the National Library of Medicine will partner to host more than 500 students—many of them African American Latino and Middle Eastern— for a day of science on the NIH main campus. The event is co-sponsored with Mentoring in Medicine, a non-profit organization that works with underprivileged students to inspire and prepare them to become health care and science professionals.

NOTE: Participation to Science Day is by invitation only through Mentoring in Medicine.

For information on programs, initiatives and resources related to minority health and health disparities, or to learn about activities at the NIH and across the HHS bringing awareness to and highlighting efforts toward the advancement of health equity during National Minority Health Month, visit the following links: