Health inequity did not start with the COVID pandemic and will not cease until achieving health equity becomes a priority at the local, state, and national levels across all domains of political, health, economic, academic, research, and social spheres of influence. The current pace of change is too slow and deeply unsatisfactory. The pandemic has encouragingly drawn attention to health disparities. However, this discussion is largely centered around modest improvement in current processes and approaches. Our humanity compels us to demand radical change in the status quo.

The US spends too much on health care and health research not to see better gains in eliminating health disparities. Life expectancy in the United States has not kept pace with our gross domestic product when compared to other industrialized nations. We have accepted chronic and yawning health disparities, especially for racial/ethnic minorities and low-income communities, for too long. We want to see eliminating health inequity as a national priority.

Currently, accelerating health equity lacks clear workable theories and pathways. The science has not caught up with the need to address inequity, which is deeply entrenched in the American fabric. Interdisciplinary innovation is needed for novel problem-solving. Public health advocacy should not continue to be primarily outside of the scope of science and funding because major gains in health equity can be achieved through changes in legal, political, regulatory, and community action and intervention. In many cases, addressing community needs around health cannot wait for the science to act, especially where a health issue has been chronically understudied and underfunded and is affecting a community in real-time. Further, the siloing with research funding and training models have hindered the ability of public health to adapt to change and heed calls for social reform. The public health social contract is to eliminate disease and to ensure that socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, geography, gender, and other social categories do not determine health outcomes.

Public Health Liberation welcomes an open and honest discussion about the state of health inequity and seeks ways to partner with you in your role to help shape policies and solutions. Below, we outline areas of policy, research, and community development needs.

I support this petition.

Once we reach a critical mass of signatures, we will begin delivering to national organizations and elected officials.