Oral

In November 2010, a seventy-person delegation sponsored by the American Public Health Association visited Havana, Cuba to gain a general understanding of the factors that contribute to the country’s health outcomes. Delegates visited institutions and interacted with individuals that form the foundation of Cuba’s health care system. Through trips to primary and specialty care facilities and participating in discussions with public health and medical school faculty and administrators, the group learned about Cuba’s public health philosophies and how they are implemented in community health and tailored for special populations. The purpose of this session will be to provide an overview of the Cuban health care system and highlight specific aspects that are particularly relevant to the manner in which community health is delivered and special populations are targeted in the United States. Presentations will examine the influences and impact of the US trade embargo on Cuba’s public health successes and challenges. Additionally, there will be discussion and comparisons drawn about how Cuba’s limited resources are leveraged to identify and address public health issues and how this methodology might be applied in the US. The session will conclude with a presentation that outlines the group’s collective lessons learned, examining the potential for application in current US community health endeavors and in implementation of health reform.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe the major differences between the health systems in Cuba and the United States. 2. Evaluate the potential for US application of Cuban public health strategies addressing social determinants in special populations and communities. 3. Identify how lessons learned from Cuban successes can be considered in implementing health reform in the US.