For Immediate Release

November 10, 2009 | WASHINGTON, D.C.

National Medical Association, National Minority Quality Forum announce collaboration to reduce HIV/AIDS, kidney disease disparities 

The National Medical Association (NMA) and the National Minority Quality Forum (The Forum), have announced a multi-year strategic collaboration to address HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, and other health care and health status disparities. This cooperation between two leading voices in the national health care arena represents a comprehensive effort to effectively target evidence-based efforts to improve the quality of care, eliminate unnecessary costs, and save lives.

Minorities and the underserved are particularly compromised by HIV/AIDS, kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. Factors resulting in these disparities include unequal access to early detection and unequal treatment once in the healthcare system. Furthermore, the majority of new cases of HIV/AIDS and kidney disease occur in a small percentage of ZIP codes in the country—often populated primarily by minorities. The impact of these diseases in minorities is having profound societal and economic consequences.

“Reducing the rates of HIV/AIDS and kidney disease in minorities and other underserved populations is a priority of the National Medical Association,” said Willarda V. Edwards, MD, MBA, President of the National Medical Association. “Our collaboration with the National Minority Quality Forum will serve as an important catalyst to develop and implement strategies to reduce the disproportionate prevalence of chronic disease.” 

“We are proud to partner with the National Medical Association on this very important initiative,” said Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, President and CEO of The Forum. “Through our web-based atlases that map HIV/AIDS, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, other chronic diseases, as well as clinical trials at the ZIP code level, collectively we can make a difference.” 

Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more than 30,000 African-American physicians and their patients. The NMA advocates for policies that would assure equitable and quality health care for all people.

The National Minority Quality Forum strengthens national and local efforts through the use of evidence-based, data-driven initiatives to guide programs to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness for racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations. The Forum’s web-based atlases for chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS can be viewed at www.z-atlas.com.

About The Forum

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan, independent research and education organization. The vision of NMQF is a health services research, delivery and financing system that provides quality and effective health services to the biodiverse American general population of the 21st century. NMQF helps assure that national and local quality improvement initiatives are informed by scientific evidence, and place a priority on the quality of care and patient outcomes in all populations.

Media Contact

Gretchen C. Wartman, VP Policy and Program

gwartman@nmqf.org | 202.223.7560