Casey KirkHart, American Medical Students Association, 1902 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191, 703 620-6600, jrf@www.amsa.org

Many entities in the health sector have responsibilities for taking needed steps to end disparities in health and in the quality of health care. Educational institutions including schools of medicine and nursing must incorporate discussion of the problem in the curriculum and incorporate cultural competency into their educational programs; health plans, hospitals and other administrators of health care must assess their own performance in providing health services without bias; licensing agencies must assure that professionals have the skills to practice in a manner designed to reduce the likelihood of racial and ethnic disparities in quality; the federal government has the responsibility to collect and analyze data to monitor the existence of disparities in quality and to engage in civil rights investigation and enforcement where there is evidence of discrimination. None of these activities will take place without concerted advocacy. The American Medical Students Association is committed to use its voice, members and resources to address these disparities and is developing a campaign to end racial and ethnic disparities, which will be described. Other student campaigns will be described as well.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives. At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the role played by AMSA and other student organizations in ending ethnic and racial disparities in health. Health Disparities Coalition in ending racial and ethnic disparities in health.
• Identify opportunities to participate in these activities

Keywords: Advocacy, Health Disparities

Related Web page: www.amsa.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.