Academy addressed health disparities Over 500 individuals gathered at the American Academy of Nursing 2002 Annual Meeting and Conference, October 31-November 2, 2002, in Naples, Florida, to create an action agenda to reduce health disparities. Dr. David R. Williams, PhD, MPH, Professor of Sociology, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, served as the keynote speaker. Dr. Williams is a member of the Institute of Medicine and participated in the recently released study, “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.” Building on the large body of research noting the existence of disparities, Dr. Williams concluded that racial/ethnic disparities in health are large, pervasive, and persistent over time. These inequalities conflict with deeply held American values of equality, and most Americans are unaware of racial/ethnic differences in health. Additionally, he noted there is an urgent need to increase awareness of this national crisis.
Gloria Smith, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, delivered the first Smith-Kellogg Annual Lectureship. Dr. Smith noted that nursing is the profession most suited to play a leading role in reducing health disparities.
Martha Hill, PhD, RN, FAAN, Co-Vice Chair, Institute of Medicine (IOM)Task Force on Health Disparities, served as the endnote speaker. Dr. Hill summarized the findings of the IOM report, “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care” and led the discussion on what nursing can do to close the gap in health disparities.
During the meeting, participants broke into small groups and began developing an action agenda for nursing in the areas of education, policy, practice, and research. The academy will appoint a commission to review the work of these groups and other relevant bodies and develop an action agenda with regard to reducing health disparities.
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