Meeting the Health Needs of the Emerging Majority – Applying Lessons Learned from Border Health Programs to Health Disparities throughout the U.S

Health disparities among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups persist in the US. Efforts to improve health status along the U.S. – Mexico border through diverse approaches and methods have resulted in appreciable gains. Application of methods and strategies successful along the border to emerging minority populations within the US can lead to similar improvements in health status.

Health disparities can be viewed as comparisons between and among many discrete groups, by geography, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, and other factors. Goals to improve health across the board, and reduce or eliminate disparities, require a view from higher altitude, because humans cross political borders along with factors which influence health status. Efforts to reduce health disparities along the U.S.-Mexico border have taught us lessons that can be applied to groups within the U.S., as immigration and migration patterns evolve over time. Successful efforts to improve health status and reduce disparities along the U.S.-Mexico border can serve as an model for efforts within the U.S. that require various entities across state lines, city and county lines, and hierarchical boundaries within government and non-governmental organizations.