National health disparities expert visits UNMC

Louis Sullivan, M.D., front row, second from left, greets members of UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. They include from left, Jackie Hill, Stephon McNeil, Athena Ramos and, back row, from left, Dr. Donna Polk-Primm, Executive Director of Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Antonia Correa, Aura Whitney-Jackson, Wayne Houston and Jose Villeges.

Louis Sullivan, M.D., center, discusses health disparities with UNMC staff.

With the national economy in a slump, finding resources for uninsured and underinsured rural and urban patients won’t be easy, said Louis Sullivan, M.D., a national health disparities expert.

On a recent visit to Omaha’s Gallup organization to discuss the future of health disparities nationwide, Dr. Sullivan took time to meet with the staff of UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. During a lecture at UNMC, he focused on the immediate needs of our community: health care and patient education.

“We must break down the barriers between health care institutions and the community. Often, a lack of trust exists between patients and providers,” Dr. Sullivan said. “As health care professionals, we must make sure patients feel welcomed and respected in our clinics.”

Dr. Sullivan is the former president of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services during the George H.W. Bush administration. He also is a champion of UNMC’s unique Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, which aims to improve the workforce pipeline of minority health care professionals.

“We must break down the barriers between health care institutions and the community.” Louis Sullivan, M.D.

With 42 million uninsured Americans, efforts to provide community-based preventative screenings are crucial, Dr. Sullivan said. It is imperative for cities to develop innovative solutions to manage the increased demand for emergent care services.

While it may have seemed like Dr. Sullivan was preaching to the choir, several UNMC employees said his message validated the importance of their work.

“It’s clear our center is on the right path,” said Athena Ramos, program coordinator at UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. “We were encouraged to focus on what we can do to provide critical preventative care and information to underserved communities in a culturally appropriate manner.”