Playing the Long Game to Advance Health Equity – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Strategic Framework for Advancing Health Equity and Sustainable Development Goals

Achieving health equity requires a long-term strategic framework focused on systemic change rather than short-term wins. This approach is critical for making substantive progress toward several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The long-term strategy involves investing in resilient systems, fostering collaborative relationships, and building sustainable movements that can withstand obstacles and address the deeply rooted social and economic inequities that drive health disparities.

Core Principles for Aligning Health Equity with Global Development Targets

A set of core principles guides the work of advancing health equity, ensuring alignment with global development objectives.

1. Leveraging Lived Experience to Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10)

   Personal and lived experiences are critical assets in addressing health disparities. Individuals from marginalized backgrounds offer unique insights and empathy essential for effective program design. Conversely, those in positions of privilege have a responsibility to advocate for and create opportunities for underserved populations. This dual approach directly supports SDG 10 by working to reduce inequalities within and among countries.

2. Upholding Scientific Integrity in Health Research

   Health equity research often faces significant scrutiny. Therefore, it is imperative that all research is grounded in rigorous scientific methodology, accuracy, and ethical conduct. Building interdisciplinary partnerships and strengthening technical skills enhances the credibility and defensibility of research findings, ensuring they can effectively inform policy and practice in pursuit of SDG 3.

3. Implementing a Multi-Factoral Approach to Well-being (SDG 3 & SDG 17)

   Health outcomes are determined by a complex interplay of factors beyond healthcare access. To address health disparities effectively, professionals must design programs and build partnerships that account for these multiple determinants. Lasting progress requires collaborative action, reflecting the principle that collective effort achieves more sustainable outcomes, a key tenet of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

4. Engaging in Policy and Advocacy for Just Institutions (SDG 16)

   Health equity is inherently linked to policy, as legislative and regulatory frameworks shape health outcomes. Effective advocacy is essential to drive systemic change. This involves developing clear strategic goals, identifying policy solutions, building coalitions, and engaging directly with policymakers to provide evidence-based testimony and feedback. Such actions contribute to building the effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions called for in SDG 16.

5. Building Authentic Community Partnerships (SDG 17)

   Communities experiencing health disparities possess invaluable assets, including lived experience and innovative solutions. It is crucial to move beyond extractive engagement models and build authentic, bidirectional partnerships where knowledge and power are shared. This collaborative approach is fundamental to the spirit of SDG 17 and ensures that interventions are community-led and sustainable.

Report on Recent Activities and Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Center Highlights

• CHE faculty hosted a workshop at the Bloomberg American Health Initiative (BAHI) Summit 2025, focusing on “Addressing Social Drivers of Health through Community-Informed Solutions,” directly contributing to SDG 3 and SDG 10.
• At the 15th Annual Henrietta Lacks Symposium, Dr. Deidra Crews delivered a keynote on kidney health progress through advocacy and community interventions (SDG 3). The 2025 Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award was presented to the Agrihood Baltimore Food Box Delivery Program, an initiative that supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3.
• A collaboration with the Mayo Clinic on the Techquity by FAITH! Project aims to improve cardiovascular health and advance digital health equity among African American communities, targeting SDG 3 and SDG 10.
• A publication in the American Journal of Public Health, led by Dr. Chidinma Ibe, explored methods for academic institutions to share power with community partners, advancing the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17.
• CHE Faculty were recognized with three JHU Discovery Awards for interdisciplinary collaborations addressing:
  • Transforming hypertension care through artificial intelligence.
  • Developing a scalable intervention for maternal obesity and postpartum depression.
  • Examining racialized risks in the pulse oximetry market.

  These projects all contribute directly to advancing SDG 3 and SDG 10.

• The CHE hosted five Jam Sessions throughout 2025, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration in line with SDG 17.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central theme is “health equity,” which is fundamental to SDG 3. It directly addresses the need to overcome health disparities and ensure healthy lives for all. Specific health issues mentioned, such as kidney health, cardiovascular health, hypertension, and maternal health (obesity and postpartum depression), are all critical components of this goal.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article explicitly links health outcomes to social and economic factors. It discusses how “social and economic inequities lead directly into health inequities” and highlights the challenges faced by “marginalized backgrounds.” The call to use privilege to advocate for others and the recognition that health equity is political directly address the core principles of reducing inequalities within and among countries.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article strongly emphasizes collaboration as a means to achieve health equity. It provides numerous examples of partnerships, such as the collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, interdisciplinary JHU Discovery Awards, and building “authentic partnerships” with communities. The proverb, “If you want to go far, go together,” encapsulates the spirit of SDG 17, which focuses on strengthening the means of implementation through multi-stakeholder partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article identifies several projects aimed at this target, including the “Techquity by FAITH!” project to improve cardiovascular health, the initiative to transform hypertension care, and the focus on kidney health and maternal postpartum depression.
   • 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 entire concept of “health equity” discussed in the article is about ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, which is the foundational principle of universal health coverage.

2. Targets under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • 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 article addresses this by emphasizing the importance of lived experience from marginalized backgrounds and advocating for those who lack privilege and a voice in decision-making processes.
   • 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 article directly supports this target by stating that “policies shape health outcomes” and encouraging professionals to develop advocacy strategies, meet with policymakers, and provide feedback on legislation to mend “broken systems.”

3. Targets under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources. The article highlights the sharing of knowledge and expertise through collaborations like the one with the Mayo Clinic on digital health equity and the publication on sharing power in community-engaged research.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, private and public-private partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article showcases this through its examples of interdisciplinary academic collaborations (JHU Discovery Awards) and the emphasis on building “authentic partnerships” with community members, who are seen as crucial partners with valuable knowledge and solutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

   • The article implies that progress can be measured by tracking health outcomes in specific populations. For Target 3.4, implied indicators would be the prevalence and mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and kidney disease within African American communities targeted by the mentioned projects. Another indicator would be the incidence of maternal obesity and postpartum depression in the populations served by the behavioral-psychosocial intervention.

2. Indicators for SDG 10 Targets

   • For Target 10.3, an implied indicator is the number of policies and legislative actions proposed or influenced through advocacy efforts aimed at reducing health inequities. For Target 10.2, the publication on “Academic Hegemony and Monitoring of Shared Power” suggests an indicator related to the level of community power and decision-making authority in research partnerships, which can be measured through qualitative and quantitative assessments of partnership dynamics.

3. Indicators for SDG 17 Targets

   • The article provides direct examples that can be used as indicators. For Target 17.17, a clear indicator is the number of multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary partnerships formed to address health equity, such as the collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and the three JHU Discovery Award projects mentioned. The effectiveness of these partnerships could be a further qualitative indicator.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: publichealth.jhu.edu