Center on Health Disparities

The Center on Health Disparities is an important extension of Adventist HealthCare's mission to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing.

Background

In September 2005, the Board of Trustees of Adventist HealthCare approved a Vision for Expanded Access. One key element of the Vision was a call to convene a Blue Ribbon Panel of community leaders to develop a locally-driven approach that addresses and eliminates health disparities in all the communities served by Adventist HealthCare.

After extensive deliberations and discussions, the panel recommended the formation of the Adventist HealthCare Center on Health Disparities with three areas of focus: increased services for underserved populations; a research program to identify and promote best practices; and an education initiative to improve the ability of caregivers to provide quality care to those populations.

Initiatives

In January 2007, Adventist HealthCare named Marcos Pesquera, R.Ph. MPH., as the Executive Director of the Center. Pesquera has begun work on five of the panel's recommendations:

• Annual community health disparities report card
• Maternal Services Center
• Patient Advocacy Program/Linguistic Access
• Disparities awareness and Culturally Competent Care training for physicians and staff
• Infrastructure for health disparities research

Additional Information

For additional information on Adventist HealthCare's Center on Health Disparities, please contact Marcos Pesquera at (301) 315-3677.