the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) held its Health Equity Symposium entitled "Establishing a Holistic Framework to Reduce Inequities in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and Tuberculosis (TB) in the United States." For those of us working on health equity issues at the state level, it was an honor to participate in such an important national event with distinguished colleagues Paula Braveman, MD, and Scott Burris, JD, who offered perspectives on some of the most pressing issues relating to health equity based on specific aspects of the NCHHSTP Strategic Plan. 1 Overcoming health inequities in the United States is entirely possible by changing the way we define, think, and address the problem. The preceding statement is meant to challenge public health professionals to champion effective health equity strategies in public health systems. We hope the following thoughts will compel you to seize opportunities to address health inequities using a holistic framework, even when it may be unpopular or uncomfortable to do so.
NCHHSTP STRATEgiC PlANStrategic plans are often developed with the best intentions, only to suffer the fate of other planning initiatives (i.e., to exist on bookshelves of their creators and stakeholders without any real life or action beyond the planning process). With this in mind, one must ask the question, how is the NCHHSTP Strategic Plan different, and will it suffer the fate of other well-intentioned planning documents? The NCHHSTP Strategic Plan is different in that it speaks to the need of addressing viral hepatitis, HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), STDs, and TB in a holistic fashion, with an emphasis on addressing the root causes of health disparities for these diseases. Addressing the root causes of disparities is not often reflected in national public health planning documents, especially as a central theme. The NCHHSTP is to be commended, for
