April is National Minority Health Month.

The National Minority Health Month Foundation announced that April 1 was the beginning of National Minority Health Month. Launched in 2001 and supported by a congressional resolution, the goal of Minority Health Month is to promote efforts to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in racial and ethnic minorities.

“The National Minority Health Month Foundation recognizes the need to eliminate health disparities among all minority populations,” said Dr. Gary Puckrein, the Foundation’s executive director. “Minority Health Month brings attention to these disparities, builds public and private partnerships to foster cultural competency among health care providers and, encourages health education.”

As part of Minority Health Month, the Foundation hosts an annual leadership summit and awards dinner. The summit brings together congressional leaders, federal executives, leading physicians, and managed care and pharmaceutical industry representatives to support the implementation of solutions to minority population health disparities.

“The Annual Leadership Summit has become an important platform for government and industry and community leaders to interface and collaborate,” Puckrein said. “With the help and support of these leaders we can bring an end to the inequities in health care.” For more information or to register for the Summit, please visit: http://www.nmhmfsummit.org

Since its inception in 1999, the National Minority Health Month Foundation has become a leader in uniting efforts to eliminate health care disparities. The Foundation has received support from a wide variety of organizations, such as pharmaceutical companies and the Department of Health and Human Services.