Translating health knowledge and using emerging technologies for ethnic minority populations

Racial/ethnic minority populations still bear a disproportionate burden of disease and barriers access to emerging health technologies. The expansion of newly available screening tests and therapies portends benefits and challenges to their full and ethical utilization. These issues are compounded by new barriers in a context of changing demographics of the US population and the lack of minority representation in clinical trials. The history of unattended policies and programs addressing preventive services and therapies will be highlighted, as well as the opportunities presented by healthcare reform to overcome social, organizational and cultural barriers to preventive programs and therapies for ethnic minorities. Domestic and international perspectives will also be presented on how minority health related issues should be taken into account by decision makers for increasing participation and engagement of minorities by translating health knowledge into health programs and services, using specific examples on screening for primary and secondary prevention. Recommendations will be presented on how to redress health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities and the role of regulation pertaining to availability and access of emerging health technologies.