Reaching for Health Equity

CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity believes healthy lives for everyone is possible. Read more about what we’re doing to advance health equity.

In 2018, the CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) celebrated 30 years of service. The 30th anniversary theme,

“Mission: Possible. Healthy Lives for Everyone,” commemorated OMHHE’s milestones related to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity.

In 1988, in response to the 1985 Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health (also known as the Heckler Report), CDC established an Office of Minority Health. To reflect the office’s evolving mission, in 1998, the name changed to the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. The name has since changed (2011) to Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. Over the years, the name has

changed but its mission remains the same: reducing and
eliminating health disparities and reaching health equity.

View this timeline to learn more about achievements in minority health and OMHHE’s 30 years of service.

What is Health Equity?

Health equity is when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

What Are Health Disparities?

Health disparities are differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people.

Many health disparities are related to social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Identification and awareness of differences among populations regarding health determinants and health outcomes are essential steps toward reducing health disparities. The future health of the nation will be determined, to a large extent, by how effectively federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations work with communities to eliminate health disparities among those populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of disease, disability, and death.

OMHHE advances health equity and women’s health issues across the nation through CDC’s science and programs. OMHHE also increases CDC’s capacity to leverage its diverse workforce and engage stakeholders to this end. OMHHE is comprised of three units including Women’s Health, Diversity and Inclusion Management, and Minority Health and Health Equity.

OMHHE 30th Anniversary Blog: Conversations in Health Equity

The blog is devoted to increasing awareness of health inequities and promoting national, state, and local efforts to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity. It is intended to be a useful way to discuss topics related to common challenges, and lessons learned and promising practices related to health equity.

In honor of the 30th anniversary, this year’s blog posts have been contributed by guest authors and discuss how other parts of CDC are making the mission possible to reduce health disparities and advance health equity. Blogs in the anniversary series include: