Jackson Meets NCMHD Awardees

Congressman Jackson tried to hug all of his guests at once on July 21, 2003. They are some of the first recipients of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities' Loan Repayment Programs. The NCMHD programs encourage doctors doing research into health disparities. Every memebr of the group pictured here has ties to Chicago, but more than 200 awards have been made to researchers from almost every state since FY 2001.

Congressman Jackson led the effort to pass a law establishing the NCMHD at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Despite improvements in the overall health of the general population, AfricanAmericans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians and pacific islanders still suffer an unequal burden of disease. To lead and coordinate the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities, the NCMHD conducts and supports basic, clinical, social and behavioral research; promotes research infrastructure and training; fosters emerging programs, and disseminates information to ethnic and medically-underserved populations.

From its creation in 2000 to the fall of 2003, the NCMHD provded $74.5 million for biomedical and behavioral research as part of its continuing mission to help all Americans live long, healthy and productive lives.