14: This Is an All-Hands-on-Deck Moment

Daniel E. Dawes is the director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, an institute laser-focused on advancement of health equity. Now Dawes sits down to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color and marginalized populations, and the importance of understanding political determinants of health in the context of American history.

For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations (www.cdcfoundation.org/conversations).

About Daniel Dawes:

Daniel Dawes is a widely respected leader and scholar in the health equity movement and has led numerous efforts to address health policy issues impacting vulnerable, under-resourced, and marginalized populations. Dawes has been instrumental in shaping major federal health policies including the Mental Health Parity Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, and the Affordable Care Act, where he led the largest network of leaders committed to prioritizing health equity and federal and state public policies. Dawes is the author of two books published by Johns Hopkins University Press: 150 Years of ObamaCare and The Political Determinants of Health.

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] Daniel Dawes talks about his background and early career. [7:52] Daniel Dawes defines health equity. [8:05] Health equity is not the same as health equality. [8:54] Dawes describes the landscape when he first began working in health equity. [12:42] COVID-19 is hitting communities of color disproportionately. [14:05] The biggest challenge is the political determinants of health. [14:50] People of color are disproportionately harmed by COVID-19. [18:25] Daniel Dawes shares the core themes of his book The Political Determinants of Health. [20:50] COVID-19 is not affecting all equally because our economic and social politics have not been benefiting all equally. [23:39] The pandemic has opened the eyes of many to the political determinants of health. [24:46] Dawes talks about the priorities of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. [26:51] The new partnership between the CDC Foundation and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. [28:17] A COVID-19 data consortium will be created that should ensure the standardization of COVID-19 data at federal, state and national levels. [30:33] The Satcher Health Leadership Institute received a $1 million grant from Google to study the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on communities of color. [32:36] Daniel Dawes talks about the successes that served as blueprints for more inclusive health policies to face pandemics, epidemics and social crises. [38:01] How are different sectors of public health coming together to face the challenges coming along with the pandemic? [38:54] Daniel Dawes gives his advice for the future public health leaders of America.

Mentioned in This Episode:

CDC Foundation

Visit CDC.gov for information about COVID-19

The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine