Winston Wong, MD, tapped to serve on Advisory Committee on Minority Health

Winston Wong, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit, has been appointed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell to serve a four-year term on the Advisory Committee on Minority Health.

The Committee, which meets twice a year, advises HHS on improving the health of racial and ethnic minority groups, and on the development of goals and program activities within the Office of Minority Health. Central to the Committee’s work are seven core values, which include the following:

• Health for the common good
• Cultural humility
• A patient-centered approach to improving population health and achieving equity
• Accountability for the health and health care of minority communities and tribal nations
• Respect for the diversity of U.S. communities
• A diverse and competent health care workforce
• Effective engagement of diverse communities

“I am honored to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Health at the request of Secretary Burwell,” said Dr. Wong. “I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to address the needs of our diverse communities across the nation, and to share the rich lessons and experiences that I’ve been privileged to be part of at Kaiser Permanente.”

Dr. Wong has led efforts to establish meaningful partnerships with the nation’s safety net providers by working with community health clinics and public systems to translate systems of care from Kaiser Permanente to the safety net setting, which has improved population health outcomes.

Dr. Wong is also widely regarded as an expert in cultural competence and improving care for vulnerable populations, with appointments to two Institute of Medicine Roundtable initiatives (Health Disparities and Health Literacy), and its Committee on Integrating Primary Care and Public Health. He co-chaired the National Quality Forum’s committee on creating a framework for cultural competence in health organizations.

“My personal commitment to address health disparities has been nurtured, supported and developed as part of this great organization,” he said.

The appointment is effective November 22, 2016.