Blog

Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina’s flood waters filled my city of New Orleans – as I watched helplessly from Alaska where I was on vacation. I remember vividly the chaos and confusion of trying to connect with family, neighbors and colleagues from afar with nothing more than a flip phone. At that time, I was on the faculty of the Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, where I conducted research, saw patients and oversaw the faculty and students of the general medicine section. After the flood, I was in charge of re-assembling my faculty and helping stand up the medical school, which was being temporarily relocated to Houston.

Yes, breastfeeding is the best nutrition for babies. But breastfeeding has never really been just about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is about rethinking society's rules for infant feeding, overcoming cultural and environmental obstacles, and improving the workplace for breastfeeding women. On top of all this, there are different cultural ideas about breastfeeding for black women, including the historical trauma of wet nursing and the marketing of infant formula in our communities, and the issue gets even trickier. It is no wonder that there have been huge differences in breastfeeding rates between black women and white women for over 40 years.

As the nation recognizes the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina—one of the most devastating and expensive natural disasters in our history—individuals, families, and communities that were directly affected continue to recover.

Twenty five years ago this week, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, making clear that people with disabilities should experience equal opportunity, independent living, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation in all aspects of our society. Over the past two and a half decades, our communities have become more accessible and more inclusive – in obvious ways, like curb cuts and accessible buildings, and in sometimes less recognized ways, such as the integration of people with disabilities in our schools, workplaces, businesses and neighborhoods.

Discrimination exacerbates health and health care disparities for communities of color. Inequity results in lack of access to quality, affordable care and can lead to prolonged and unnecessary illness. This is especially true for people with a mental illness or substance use disorder. During July, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we shine a light on the discrimination that minorities often experience when living with a mental health condition, and learn how we can prevent it.

Discrimination exacerbates health and health care disparities for communities of color. Inequity results in lack of access to quality, affordable care and can lead to prolonged and unnecessary illness.

This July 28th marks the 6th annual World Hepatitis Day (WHD), an opportunity to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and come together to share our successes and strategize about our challenges. Importantly, WHD provides a platform to mobilize greater support for our continued work toward better surveillance and prevention programs and improved access to diagnosis and treatment, through focused governmental and nongovernmental action. Globally, over 400 million people are living with viral hepatitis, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1.4 million people around the world die each year as a result of viral hepatitis. WHO focuses attention on World Hepatitis Day as one of the 8 official global health campaigns mandated by WHO Member States. We are honored to join in this annual global observance.

Today is a special day at the White House. Every decade since 1961, the White House Conference on Aging has brought together men and women from across the country who are working to improve the lives of older Americans. And today marks the sixth and largest White House Conference on Aging.

As a first-generation Caribbean American, I often draw inspiration from my greatest role models — my parents.

Today, the Obama administration is launching the “Healthy Self” campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles and connect people to the coverage and care they need.

Over the past year, I've traveled all over America to hear from older Americans, caregivers, advocates, researchers, and local leaders engaged in broadening options for older Americans.

As part of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) is pleased to announce the translation of the ChooseMyPlate 10 Tips resource and MyPlate icon from English into 18 additional languages.

The essence of diversity is brilliantly reflected across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in DHHS’ celebration recognizing the 30th anniversary of the release of what’s now referred to as “The Heckler Report.”

Hardly anyone knew that 28-year-old Monique Gore-Massy was sick on her wedding day in 2008, but just two months earlier, she had been diagnosed with lupus. Before then, Monique had been coping with symptoms such as fever, chronic body pain, swelling of her joints, hair loss, shortness of breath and mouth sores without understanding why. First she was prescribed antibiotics and then told she was suffering from a viral infection. After nearly a year of confusion and misdiagnosis, Monique was finally diagnosed with lupus. Unfortunately, Monique’s experience is all too common. A recent study found