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PHILADELPHIA – "Community partnership is often the best way" to address health disparities in the Asian Pacific American community, the newly-appointed Acting US Surgeon General Kenneth P. Moritsugu observed at the 28th annual national convention of the Organization of Chinese Americans recently held here.

                Dr. Moritsugu has urged "collaboration with OCA" because of the existing infrastructure of the organization and also because OCA shares the Department of Health and Human Services commitment and goal to promote "the healthcare of all Americans."

                Dr. Moritsugu’s plenary keynote address on August 11 focused on the "Health Disparities in the Asian Pacific American Community." OCA leaders noted at the convention that the APA community faces challenges in "accessing health care services and benefits."

                "My goal is to close the gap and to help eliminate it," he told conventioneers, referring to the disparities in addressing diabetes, cancer, stroke, infant mortality, child and adult immunization and HIV. He stressed the importance of prevention. He cited Hepatitis B as an example, saying it "is 100 per cent preventable."

He cited culture and language gap, as well as "doctorese,"or the tendency of doctors and others in the healthcare profession to speak in medical terms that are not understood by the ordinary person.

                Underscoring the need for the community to embrace health literacy, he said the term means "to access, understand and to use health-related information that will help improve one’s life."

Dr. Moritsugu said his office has launched a Family History Initiative "that can save your life."

                Saying recent gnome medical breakthroughs can now link specific genes with specific diseases, he stressed, "Your family’s health history can be the personal indicator" and serve as medical guide. A history of men dying young from heart condition could guide families in having early testing for cholesterol and high blood pressure among their sons.

                He said there’s a wealth of information available at www.surgeon general.com He noted Asian Americans and others can access the website and get a family health portrait. "We’re not collecting information, that’s for your own use. You can print it and take it to your doctor."

                "It is a simple preventive action, and I ask that when you get back to your community that you would let this take root," he concluded, referring to Family History Initiative launched last Thanksgiving, to coincide with family reunion. "Now is the time for us to lead," he added, citing Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt’s leadership in promoting health for all Americans, and what OCA, celebrating its achievements in the past and outlining strategy for the future, is all about.

Appointment hailed

Rear Admiral Moritsugu succeeded US Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, whose term ended last July. He had served as deputy surgeon general for nearly eight years prior to his appointment.

                "It is a great honor to be appointed Acting Surgeon General and to provide the best science and information to the American people which will help them to maintain and improve their health," Dr. Moritsugu told Asian Fortune. "As a 36-year member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, I’m privileged to work with the 6,000 officers to safeguard the health of our nation."

In his website, he said he was "humbled and feel very privileged that Secretary Leavitt has asked me to be the Acting Surgeon General, while the President seeks a nominee to fill the position of 18th Surgeon General...I will continue to promote the Priorities for Public Health that (former Surgeon General) Carmona advocated. I encourage each of you to also remain active in your efforts to increase disease prevention, eliminate health disparities, and strengthen public health preparedness.

                Asian American leaders hailed his appointment. OCA National President Ginny Gong told Asian Fortune, "I’m very proud of Acting Surgeon General Moritsugu’s appointment. Anytime an Asian American gets appointed to a nationally prominent position, it draws attention to us and our accomplishments." "He’s an outstanding choice, and I hope his appointment will be made permanent," said Michael Lin, National Institutes of Health program officer and former OCA national president.

                Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Moritsugu is a career officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He served as an Assistant Surgeon General beginning with Surgeon General C. Everett Koop in 1988. He graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine in 1971. He earned an M.P.H. in Health Administration and Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

                Over his career, Admiral Moritsugu has served in many diverse assignments. He was the assistant bureau director and the medical director of the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1987-98, charged with the health care of over 120,00 federal inmates and detainees, and a budget over $400 million