Dear Closing the Health Gap Community:

February is Heart Health Month and the first Friday in February is celebrated as National Wear Red Day, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American women in the United States and black adults account for over 50% of heart failure hospitalizations among U.S. adults under 50. Join us this month as we share ways you can take care of your heart health and share stories from our community.

Here are a few tips to help manage your cardiovascular health:

• choose healthy food and drinks
• get regular physical activity
• get enough rest
• adopt a heart-healthy diet.

Remember, We must save Us.

Have a safe and blessed week ahead!

Renee Mahaffey Harris

President & CEO

Cardiovascular health risks continue to grow within Black communities, action needed

The American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update reports that while progress has been made in reducing cardiovascular and cerebral health disparities, Black communities in the United States still face disproportionately higher risk of heart disease, stroke and hypertension. These gaps subsequently contribute to equally disproportionate high death rates, underscoring the urgent need for lifesaving intervention. As part of its nationwide Heart Month and Black History Month activations, the American Heart Association -- devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all -- is highlighting the need to close the survival gap through continued education, advocacy and Hands-Only CPR training. The American Heart Association’s goal: ensuring all people, especially those at greatest risk, have opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.

Click here for the full blog post.

Statement From New York Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald on Black History Month

"As we celebrate Black History Month, the New York State Department of Health is even more committed to continuing to advocate for the implementation of programs and policies that eliminate disparities and improve health outcomes for Black New Yorkers.

"Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time to recognize significant contributions Black Americans have made. Derived from Negro History Week and created by Black Historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month has been celebrated in February since 1976. Canada and the United Kingdom have also devoted a month to celebrating Black History.

"Sadly, systemic racism continues to play a role in inequitable health outcomes and lack of quality care that has impacted the Black community and other communities of color.

"Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, the State Health Department will continue working to improve access to quality care and eliminate health disparities as we address the disproportionate impacts that preventable outcomes such as maternal mortality, heart disease and diabetes have on the Black community.

"As the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, 'Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.'

"Each day, this month especially, I encourage everyone to celebrate the many significant contributions Black Americans have made to this state and country. I encourage you to recognize the adversity the Black community continues to face and fight to overcome with clarity and empathy. As public servants, we must work to put an end to the health inequalities, injustices and systemic racism that Black Americans and other communities of color experience every day."

Cleveland doctor changing narrative on Black health outcomes

The health disparities that exist today among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are systemic. According to KFF, federal US policies dating back to the 1800s have influenced some of the challenges, including access to care, life expectancy and a lack of diversity in the health care workforce. The most recent US Census shows 13.7% of the population is Black, but according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 5.7% of physicians in the country are Black.



Click here to register.

Closing the Care Gap Through Addressing Disparities in Oncology

On World Cancer Day, the oncology community aims to raise awareness about cancer, promote prevention, detection, and treatment, and push for equitable access to care worldwide. While significant strides have been made in cancer research and therapeutics, disparities in access to care remain a pressing challenge, particularly for underserved populations. Socioeconomic status, geographic location, and systemic barriers continue to influence patient outcomes, highlighting the critical need for targeted interventions.

The 2022-2024 World Cancer Day theme, “Close the Care Gap,” demonstrates this need to bridge inequities in cancer care and ensure that every patient, regardless of background, receives timely and effective treatment. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach, integrating patient navigation, financial assistance, clinical trial access, and community-based outreach.

Click here for the full story.

How Should Health Care and Public Health Respond to the New US Administration?

During the transition period following the November 2024 presidential election, a lingering question was whether the controversial proposals floated during the campaign were merely rhetoric or serious policy intentions. The first week of the new administration erased any doubts that the candidates meant what they said. A flurry of executive actions sent shock waves through the scientific, medical, and public health communities.

The president withdrew the US from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate; froze federal hiring; terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs; and formally rejected gender/sexual identities other than biological sex. Federal websites went dark, notably those concerning reproductive health, DEI, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) rights. Publication of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was paused, and the Food and Drug Administration removed information from its website intended to encourage enrollment of racial and ethnic minority individuals in clinical trials.

President Trump revoked Biden-era executive orders on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), prescription drug costs, public health and the environment, pandemic preparedness, the public health workforce, and worker health. The Department of Health and Human Services banned outside communication on websites, press releases, or social media; public appearances; and travel. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) canceled study sections and advisory council meetings and rescinded job offers. Incoming political appointees made plans to strip “ideology” from the NIH research portfolio, reorganize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, and screen scientific reports before their release. All this in the first week.

Click here for the full story.

Enquirer: A guide to Black History Month events in (and around) Cincinnati

February is Black History Month, a great opportunity to celebrate African American culture, from inspirational and thought-provoking to educational and fun.

Click here for the article.