Every April, National Minority Health Month offers an important opportunity to reflect on persistent inequities in healthcare and to recommit to meaningful action. In Indiana, the need for this work is especially clear.
In Indiana, Black people are 46% more likely to die avoidable, premature deaths than White people. This sobering statistic is just one example of the many health disparities that exist not only in our state, but across the country. These differences in outcomes are often shaped by lack of access to affordable, timely, and culturally responsive care.
This National Minority Health Month, we are taking time to acknowledge these disparities and advocate for increased education, training, and collaboration to help bridge healthcare gaps and meet the needs of all communities equitably.
Why Does This Matter?
Health disparities affect individuals, families, and entire communities, often compounding over generations. When people face barriers to care, preventable conditions can worsen, trust in the healthcare system can erode, and lives can be profoundly impacted.
Some of the most critical disparities today include:
- Among adults with any mental illness, Hispanic (44%), Black (39%), and Asian (33%) adults are less likely than White adults (58%) to receive mental health services.
- Pregnancy-related mortality rates are more than three times higher among Black women compared to White women.
- Compared to their White counterparts, 12% more Hispanic people under 65 do not have health insurance.
These gaps highlight the urgent need for systems that are designed to serve people where they are, taking into account social, economic, cultural, and structural factors that influence health. That is the mission of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center (JPCHC).
Turning Awareness into Action
Addressing health inequities requires more than acknowledging the data. It requires intentional, sustained effort across every level of healthcare delivery.
“Health disparities happen when barriers, such as care affordability, transportation challenges, language differences, and systemic biases, make it harder for some people to get the care they need,” says Dr. Karen Hill, Chief Medical Officer at the Jane Pauley Community Health Center. “These disparities are not abstract statistics; they represent real people whose lives are being cut short or permanently changed by preventable gaps in care.”
Achieving better outcomes means listening to communities, understanding lived experiences, and designing care models that reflect those realities.
Dr. Hill adds, “achieving health equity means meeting Hoosiers where they are and designing care that responds to their specific experiences. From behavioral health access to maternal outcomes, we have a responsibility as healthcare leaders to address bias, expand access, and build trust in the communities we serve.”
A Shared Responsibility
Health equity is not the responsibility of one organization or sector alone. It requires shared accountability and collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers, educators, and community partners.
“Reducing health disparities requires shared accountability across healthcare organizations, policymakers, and communities,” says Dr. Hill. “By investing in education, culturally responsive care, and data driven solutions, we can close longstanding gaps and ensure every Indiana resident has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
This National Minority Health month, and every month, we remain committed to learning, listening, and acting in ways that promote healthier futures for all. By working together, we can change healthcare for the better and produce better outcomes for all people.
Karen Hill, MD, FACP, FAAP, is the Chief Medical Officer at the Jane Pauley Community Health Center. Dr. Hill’s decades-long career has spanned both clinical practice and healthcare administration. She received her MD from the University of Cincinnati.
