Office of Minority Health  and Health Disparities (MHHD)
MHHD October 2018 Newsletter Highlights
MHHD Director's Corner
MHHD's 15th Annual Health Equity Conference
Article Series: MHHD Priority Focus Areas
13th Annual Maryland Women of Color Network Conference
 MHHD Director's Corner  

Welcome to Fall!

This column takes a temporary break from the rigors of public health science to bring you a celebration of the season of fall. In the words of John Ruskin, There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. 

There is something about the crisp reprieve from the heat of the summer, paired with golden light and leafy color show that should earn the season a special place in your heart. So, here's to thin mountain air, warm campfires, ci der, harvest dinners, and hay rides. Breakout the flannel, fall is here.

Fall is the best season but it's also the shortest. Before you know it, the last leaf is trembling on the branch and the birds have flown to their wintering grounds. 

We at MHHD embrace the fall. While we are enjoying all that the season as to offer, we are inspired by the many public health events that take place throughout these month. We have the Maryland Public Health Association conference, followed by the national gathering of the American Public Health Association. The Maryland Women of Color Network Conference,  Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Weekend, and, our highlight event, MHHD's 15th Annual Health Equity Conference.
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We invite you to get involved, participate in one of the many public health programming activities this fall and enjoy this season!

MHHD Director, Noel Brathwaite, PhD, MSPH  
Registration is now open for MHHD's 15th Annual Health Equity Conference
 

Date & Time: 
Thursday, Dec. 6
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location:
Martin's West, 6817 Dogwood Rd, Baltimore, 21244

 Conference Registration Fee:
$30 - pre-registration 
$20 - students
$40 - day of conference, if space permits
Contact MHHD:
or 410-767-7117

MHHD Website:
 
Article Series: MHHD Priority Focus Areas

Beginning in June, we began a series of articles highlighting MHHD's Priority Focus Areas. Articles in this series include background on the focus areas, current data, and information detailing MHHD's activities to help eliminate health disparities in these areas.  In June we highlighted infant mortality , in July  prediabetes  was highlighted, and August we highlighted asthma . 

This month, we begin our next series, highlighting the four social determinant of health focus areas: transportation, housing, food access, and educational attainment.  

Social Determinant of Health - Transportation

Addressing Health Disparities through 
 Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Programs

Article submitted by:  Robert Stephens, MS, Health Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Summary: The Maryland Department of Health is working with the Garrett County Health Department on a pilot project to assure access in Maryland's most sparsely populated county.  The pilot program is designed to improve health access and parity utilizing non-emergency medical service pilot funds to address rural transportation challenges. The program began in July 2018.  

Read more about the program and the importance of addressing transportation as a social determinant of health.
13th Annual Maryland Women of Color Network Conference
Friday, Nov. 2
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Bowie State University

Sponsored by the Maryland Women of Color Network (MWOCN), a program of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, along with the Maryland Department of Health and Bowie State University.  Click here to register.