The theme of the 47th annual Minority Health Conference, “Uniting Words and Worlds: Innovation in Health Communication,” speaks to the heart of public health: the ability to share knowledge in ways that move people, shape policy, and spark change. Advances in science mean little if they remain locked in journals, hidden behind complex jargon, or mistrusted by the very communities they are meant to serve. In today’s world, where misinformation spreads faster than truth, the way we communicate can mean the difference between harm and healing.

This theme highlights communication as a science, an art, and a skill. Effective communication requires not only rigor and creativity but also the strategy to reach diverse audiences and the skill to build trust in challenging contexts. It challenges us to reimagine how research, stories, and solutions are connected and to ask: How can words heal divides? How can storytelling open doors to healthier futures? How can communication be used not just to inform, but to inspire action and advance justice?

The 47th annual Minority Health Conference aims to bring together voices across disciplines, including community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and health advocates, to explore innovative ways of making health knowledge accessible and transformative. By focusing on communication, we aim to spotlight new tools, platforms, and strategies that break down barriers, amplify marginalized voices, and ensure that solutions resonate where they are needed most.

47th Annual Minority Health Conference: 

28th William T. Small Jr. Keynote Speaker 

Dr. Reed V. Tuckson 

Biography

Dr. Tuckson is the Managing Director of Tuckson Health Connections and Founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID-19. A nationally respected physician leader, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs at UnitedHealth Group, President of the American Telemedicine Association, Senior Vice President for Professional Standards at the American Medical Association, Commissioner of Public Health for Washington, DC, and President of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. 

He has been appointed to leadership and advisory roles with the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Medicine, among many federal committees shaping U.S. healthcare. Through decades of clinical leadership, corporate experience, and grassroots engagement, Dr. Tuckson has become a leading voice on advancing health equity, rebuilding trust, and confronting structural racism in healthcare.