Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111915

Claudia Rose Baquet, MD, MPH, Center For Health Disparities Research, Outreach and Training, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St. #618, Baltimore, MD 21201, 310 7061742, cbaquet@som.umaryland.edu

At no other time in history has the opportunity to reduce and eliminate disparities in health existed as it does today. The intensive federal, private and industry focus on this topic coupled with, resource allocation provide the opportunity to make national, state and local strides in reducing and eliminating inequities in health.

Policy formulation and research have emerged as essential tools to address disparities in health. This is especially relevant for factors such as health care access and quality, barriers to health care, and community and health professional education.

Cancer disparities in Maryland exist for morbidity, mortality, and risk behaviors. These disparities affect minority and underserved rural populations and solutions to eliminate cancer health disparities are complex, requiring comprehensive and focused multidisciplinary and multifactorial strategies. Policy development and research have played important roles in the state in mobilizing state legislators.

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to do the following:

1. Discuss the role and types of health policy in addressing cancer health disparities.

2. Describe a model in Maryland for fostering state policies related to cancer and health disparities and equity in health care access.

3. Understand the differences in policy, legislation and regulation.

4. Discuss the role of research and its influence on development of Maryland state health disparities policies.

5. Understand the process of fostering support for health disparities related policies by state policy makers.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to do the following

1.Discuss the role and types of health policy in addressing cancer health disparities. 2.Describe a model in Maryland for fostering state policies related to cancer health disparities and equity in health care access.
• Understand the differences in policy, legislation and regulation.
• Discuss the role of research and its influence on development of Maryland state health disparities policies.
• Understand the process of fostering support for health disparities related policies by state policy makers.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation