A few weeks ago, I was reminded that April is Minority Health Month. It wasn’t that I had forgotten. It was more that keeping up with the health reform legislation had been a priority.

If you are not familiar with National Minority Health Month, you may wonder what its purpose is. The overarching goals of Minority Health Month are to bring awareness to the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in our country and to develop an organized effort to eliminate these disparities. The state and local organizations that participate in Minority Health Month often use this as an opportunity to empower minorities to improve their health and gain support for policies that will help reduce disparities.

CONSUELO H. WILKINS, M.D.

Although I am a doctor, I do not surround myself with other doctors. I know many people from many walks of life. And I’ve noticed that the healthiest of them have something in common. It’s not their height or weight, skin or hair color, or even their blood pressure or heart rate. For the healthiest of them, health is like a hobby. They like to talk about it, read about it, follow it, learn about it, share it, practice it and even laugh about it.

FAMILY FITNESS—Ann Kenderson works out with fellow SilverSneakers members at the Kingsley Association Health and Wellness Expo in East Liberty during National Minority Health Month in April 2008.

You’ll hear them say, “Now I just read...” or “Did you hear?” or “There’s a brand new study that shows...” or “I learned something so interesting today...”

And they go on to talk about preventions, exercises, diseases, health insurance options, weight control, foods, managing a doctor or hospital visit...you name it.

“We need to get men connected to the health care system. As it is now, women outlive men by five to six years, and the situation is much bleaker in minority communities,” said Atlanta physician Jean Bonhomme.

“The health care system has become increasingly aware of the importance of prevention for the good health of the individuals. However, prevention has proven a challenge for men. Somehow, many still believe going to the doctor is a sign of weakness.

Rhonda Moore Johnson is the medical director of Health Equity & Quality Services at Highmark Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh. Johnson leads Highmark’s efforts to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities among Highmark members through clinical interventions and improvements in health literacy and health-plan cultural competency.

RHONDA MOORE JOHNSON

Johnson has worked in the managed care industry for over 14 years, prior to which she practiced pediatrics and adolescent medicine in a variety of public and private settings.