“Eliminating Child Health Disparities: A Call to Action,” Journal of the National Medical Association, Antonia C. Novello, 2006
While serving as the New York State Commissioner of Health in 2004, former Surgeon General Dr. Antonia C. Novello (b. 1944) delivered this lecture at Howard University. She charged the audience with closing the gap between what medical professionals say about health disparities and what they in fact do about them. Drawing on her experience as a pediatrician and the nation’s highest medical officer, Dr. Novello explained the importance of providing care to people free from judgement or shame. She outlined the challenges facing physicians working to eliminate child health disparities, including poverty, a lack of culturally competent care, and a lack of health education in poor and minority communities.