Report on Health Equity Initiatives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report outlines the mission, strategy, and activities of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Office of Health Equity, led by Dr. Clyde Yancy, MD, MSc. The office’s work is critically aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on creating an equitable healthcare system that ensures well-being and reduces inequality for all populations.

The Imperative of Health Equity: A Foundation for Sustainable Development

Health equity is defined as the provision of goods or services that are uniquely appropriate for a given individual, ensuring that all persons have the opportunity for a prosperous life. This principle is fundamental to achieving global sustainable development, as health is a foundational asset from which social and economic well-being evolves.

• The absence of health in any segment of a population negatively impacts the health and economic stability of the entire community.
• Addressing health inequities is a core component of achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• The pursuit of health equity is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one, as prevention is consistently more effective and less costly than treatment.

Strategic Alignment with Key Sustainable Development Goals

The Office of Health Equity’s initiatives directly contribute to several key SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By working to close health gaps and advocating for high-quality, accessible care for every individual, the office directly supports the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. The focus on prevention over chronic care management aligns with sustainable healthcare models.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The central mission to eliminate health disparities based on background and life circumstances is a direct effort to reduce inequalities within and among countries. Equitable access to healthcare is a cornerstone of social inclusion and equal opportunity.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The significant economic costs of health inequities, estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually, represent an unsustainable burden that limits national investment. By promoting health for all, the office contributes to a healthier, more productive workforce and sustainable economic growth.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education: The office actively instills the principles of health equity into the training of medical students, residents, fellows, and early-career faculty. This ensures that future generations of healthcare professionals are equipped to advance equitable care, creating a long-term, sustainable impact.

Operationalizing Health Equity: Mission and Activities

The Office of Health Equity’s stated mission is “to advance healthcare and improve health for all people, everywhere.” This is accomplished through a portfolio of targeted programs and continuous engagement.

Core Strategies

• Convening Diverse Voices: Actively gathering the stories and perspectives of all served populations to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Developing Pathway Programs: Implementing programs to welcome a heterogeneous group of students and professionals into medical, allied health, and graduate schools.
• Fostering Future Leaders: Instilling the virtue of equitable care into the fabric of early-career professionals to ensure the mission’s longevity.
• Promoting Research and Dialogue: Showcasing research and policy interventions that address health disparities through symposia and speaker series.

Future Outlook and Community Engagement

The Office of Health Equity remains steadfast in its mission and invites broad community participation to advance its goals, reflecting the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Opportunities for Involvement

• Health Equity Council: Membership is open to all members of the Feinberg community to guide and support the office’s work.
• Lyceum Speaker Series: An annual event featuring nationally recognized authorities on health equity. The Fall 2025 event will feature Dr. Leslie R. Walker on Tuesday, October 14.
• Health Equity Research Symposium: An annual poster session showcasing interventions and policies to promote equitable care. The next symposium is scheduled for October 14, 2025, with abstract submissions opening on August 18.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central theme is “health equity,” defined as ensuring “every individual — regardless of background — has access to high-quality care.” This directly aligns with the goal of promoting well-being for all at all ages. Dr. Yancy states that “the critical first step to prosperity in life is the preservation and maintenance of ideal health.” The discussion also covers the prevention of illness, noting that “prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment.”

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article is fundamentally about reducing health inequalities. The mission of the Office of Health Equity is to “close health gaps” and address the fact that “not every person has access” to healthcare. It emphasizes providing “equitable access,” which means offering services that are “uniquely appropriate for a given individual,” thereby reducing inequalities of outcome.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article highlights educational initiatives aimed at promoting health equity. The Office of Health Equity runs “pathway programs, welcoming programs for medical, allied health and graduate schools.” It also aims to “instill this virtue [of health equity] in the fabric of our early-career professionals,” ensuring future healthcare providers have the knowledge and skills to promote equitable care.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The work described involves collaboration and community engagement. The Office of Health Equity works by “convening the voices and stories that reflect all the populations we serve.” It holds events like the “Lyceum Speaker Series” and a “Health Equity Research Symposium” to engage the community, and membership on its “Health Equity Council is open to all,” fostering a multi-stakeholder partnership approach.

Identified SDG Targets

1. Target 3.4: Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   • This target is addressed through the article’s emphasis on prevention over treatment. The statement, “prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment,” and the mention of costs associated with “serious illnesses and chronic care” directly relate to managing and preventing non-communicable diseases.

2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

   • The article’s core mission to “ensure that every individual — regardless of background — has access to high-quality care” is a direct reflection of this target. The concept of “equitable access” is central to achieving universal health coverage.

3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

   • The Office of Health Equity’s mission to “advance healthcare and improve health for all people, everywhere” and its work to welcome a “heterogeneous group of medical students, residents, fellows and early-career faculty” directly support the goal of inclusion for all.

4. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

   • The entire initiative is focused on this target. By working to “close health gaps” and address systemic “impediments in our varied public systems,” the Office of Health Equity aims to reduce inequalities of health outcomes.

5. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

   • The effort to “instill this virtue [health equity] in the fabric of our early-career professionals” is a direct application of this target, as it equips future health leaders with the knowledge and values needed to promote sustainable and equitable health systems.

Implied Indicators for Measurement

1. Indicator for Target 3.8: Financial cost of health disparities.

   • The article explicitly mentions the “economic costs of varied health outcomes, estimated to total hundreds of billions of dollars per year.” This figure serves as a direct indicator of the financial burden caused by a lack of universal and equitable health coverage, aligning with the measurement of catastrophic health expenditures (Indicator 3.8.2).

2. Indicator for Target 10.3: Existence of policies and institutions to combat discrimination.

   • The existence and mission of the “Office of Health Equity” itself serves as an institutional indicator. Its programs and clear intent “to advance healthcare and improve health for all people” are actions taken to reduce inequalities, which can be measured and tracked.

3. Indicator for Target 4.7: Participation in educational programs promoting health equity.

   • The article provides a quantifiable measure of engagement in its educational events, stating that “Health Equity events typically draw hundreds of attendees on-site and even more in the virtual space.” The number of participants in “pathway programs” and the number of abstracts submitted to the “Health Equity Research Symposium” are also measurable indicators of progress.

Summary of Findings

Source: news.feinberg.northwestern.edu