Originally published November 6, 2015
Social work professor Mark Lusk, Ed.D., has been appointed to a 2-year term with the Southwest Regional Health Equity Council. A regional council of the U.S. Office of Minority Health, the group promotes health access for underrepresented groups and seeks to address regional health inequities. The southwest region includes Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
There are 10 Regional Health Equity Councils (RHEC) in the United States. Organized under the Office of Minority Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the RHEC’s are nongovernmental organizations that assist the government in its efforts to build a nation free of disparities in health and health care. The group members represent health care professionals, scientists, academics and policymakers who collaborate across several state regions to promote policies and practices that advance health equity. In Region VI, priorities include increasing access to health care under the Affordable Care Act and effectively utilizing community health workers to promote healthy lifestyles. Region VI falls well behind the national averages on many measures of physical and behavioral health.
“Our region is challenged to advance health equity by increasing the number of individuals who are enrolled in health insurance programs, improving health services to rural regions, and enhancing health access for minorities and under-represented groups,” Lusk said. “I look forward to the opportunity to be part of the Texas delegation on this council.”