13^th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH DISPARITIES

April 22-25, 2020
Hilton Washington DC National Mall
Washington, DC

The 13^th National Conference of Health Disparities (NCHD) and 2020 National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program are combining knowledge and resources for a four-day joint program, April 22-25, 2020, at the Hilton Hotel DC National Mall located in Washington, DC.

Over the course of 12 previous programs, the NCHD has examined the relationship between health, environmental quality, economic development and Environmental Justice, with emphasis on the causes, impacts and elimination of health disparities.

The conference will bring together over 500 health executives, health professionals, researchers, community leaders, students, and government officials, for another year of innovative and strategic discussions, solutions and partnerships to discuss the key issues listed below:

• The importance of addressing the Social Determinants of Health - such as poverty, educational attainment, environmental quality, housing and public safety – as a means of reducing and eliminating health disparities;
• The impacts of Climate Change on public health and well-being, with a focus on First Responders and disaster recovery;
• Mental and behavioral health disparities as public health issues, including the recognition and treatment of mental illness as a means of reducing violent and/or deadly, outcomes, including gun violence and suicide;
• Issues facing our nation’s First Responders as they address a range of issues, including emergency medical response and supplies, and catastrophic weather events, drought and flood conditions, and wildfires;
• The Substance Abuse Crisis: Impacts and Answers with aFocus on the Opioid Crisis, Tobacco and Alcohol, and other Drugs;
• Human trafficking as a public health issue;
• Leveraging technology to address access concerns in rural and underserved communities; and
• What has and has not worked in addressing both Environmental Justice and health disparities.

The 13^th NCHD will continue a longstanding programmatic effort to identify and support the next generation of leaders in healthcare with the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Forum, inviting student submissions for its annual research poster session. The Student Research Forum will include presentations by students, a keynote address and roundtable discussions.

The program agenda will be published in January 2020. Pre-Registration will open December 2019.