This strategic acquisition combines BioCentric’s medical affairs and commercial expertise with JPA Health’s integrated services, predictive analytics and AI-driven solutions  

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2024 — JPA Health, a global full-service, integrated health agency, announced the acquisition of BioCentric, Inc., an award-winning medical communications agency. BioCentric is recognized for its work with leading pharmaceutical companies, supporting them with scientific platforms for pipeline product candidates, clinical trial acceleration, and HCP engagement.

BioCentric will serve as JPA Health’s medical communications and learning experiences arm, leveraging its innovative serious games and gamification approach to enhance engagements, capture meaningful insights, and drive positive behavior change. Sherine Aly, who founded BioCentric in 2001, will continue to lead the division, ensuring clients receive exceptional scientific communications solutions. BioCentric has offices in Collingswood, N.J., and Lausanne, Switzerland.

“We are thrilled to welcome BioCentric into the growing JPA Health family,” said Carrie Jones, CEO of JPA Health. “This acquisition is a great union, bringing together BioCentric’s medical prowess with JPA’s deeply rooted expertise across marketing, patient advocacy, and corporate communications. Our clients will benefit from a fully integrated agency that can deliver unparalleled solutions to help them achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.”

“Joining JPA Health allows us to elevate our work to new heights. Our shared commitment to improving lives by connecting healthcare stakeholders and leveraging the latest technological innovations will unlock powerful and creative synergies,” said Sherine Aly, Executive Vice President, Medical Communications. “Together, we can now offer our clients end-to-end solutions that make a real difference in patients’ lives.”

This acquisition follows JPA Health’s purchase of True North Solutions in September 2023, further expanding the agency’s capabilities in predictive analytics, AI, and natural language processing. With the integration of True North Solutions and BioCentric, JPA Health continues to build on its mission to provide comprehensive, data-driven, and high-impact services to clients across the life sciences, public health, one health, and federal government sectors.

The combined agency has more than 120 employees across offices in the U.S. and Europe, offering a synergistic suite of services that includes corporate communications, brand marketing, patient engagement, and scientific storytelling. This integration is rooted in the shared values and vision of both organizations, deeply committed to advancing medicine and improving health outcomes.

For more information about JPA Health and its comprehensive suite of services, please visit www.jpa.com.

Media Contact

Guillermo Meneses, SVP, Earned Media
M: 202-445-1570
gmeneses@jpa.com

JPA Health

JPA Health is an award-winning independent, full-service agency established in 2007. With offices across the U.S. and Europe, the agency seamlessly brings together flexible solutions in public relations, commercial marketing, patient advocacy, and medical communications across the health sector. Leveraging tailored AI solutions, JPA Health crafts seamless, 360-degree omnichannel strategies to engage healthcare stakeholders effectively. As a women-owned and independent agency, we are passionate about helping people live healthier lives and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of healthcare communications. Discover more at www.jpa.com.

BioCentric – A JPA Health Company

BioCentric is an award-winning medical communications and learning experiences agency that supports a broad range of drug development and commercialization activities. With expertise in behavioral science, modern learning principles, and game mechanics, BioCentric creates value-based, customer-centric experiences to improve patient care.

By Samantha Cranko, Senior Vice President, Life Science

Fast-moving technology and shifting HCP and consumer behaviors are reshaping how strategic pharmaceutical marketers communicate – and how consumers expect the industry to communicate – in major ways. As an integrated agency with a robust portfolio in pharma and biotech, JPA Health has identified five healthcare PR trends having a major impact on corporate and product communications strategies today.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML): Streamlining Communications with Precision

No surprise, artificial intelligence and machine learning are at the forefront of revolutionizing our approach to communications. These technologies enhance our work as communicators by automating routine tasks, forecasting media trends, and optimizing content distribution. Importantly, they also allow for the personalization of content and provide deep insights by analyzing extensive data sets quickly.

However, the incorporation of AI and ML demands a responsible approach—emphasizing trustworthy usage, secure deployments, and human oversight to ensure ethical engagement that maintains the authenticity and accuracy required of pharma communications. This delicate balance will be critical for pharma professionals to master in 2024.

2. Leveraging Micro-Influencers: Enhancing Authentic Engagement

The shift from celebrity to micro-influencer endorsements highlights a preference for authenticity and specificity in audience engagement. These influencers, often individuals with personal experiences in specific health conditions, resonate deeply with their audiences. Their genuine connections yield higher engagement rates, making them valuable partners for pharmaceutical brands looking to communicate in relatable and trustworthy ways, particularly on platforms like TikTok.

3. Strategic Storytelling: The Impact of Focused Narratives

With so much misinformation in the media marketplace, consumers are seeking outlets they trust – and those might not be the big media outlets PR people have relied on in the past. A compelling story in the right niche can achieve more impact for your brand than widespread, unfocused coverage. Strategic storytelling for today’s health consumer involves crafting narratives that not only resonate with targeted audiences but also align with media outlets that your audiences trust most. This approach not only amplifies the message but also fosters a deeper connection with the audience, enhancing the overall effectiveness of communications campaigns.

4. Patient-Centric Digital Experiences: Beyond the Product

Digital advancements have raised everyone’s expectations for a more personalized experience. For pharmaceutical brands, this means creating digital platforms that offer more than just product information. Interactive tools, tailored content, and supportive online communities are essential for engaging patients (and caregivers) meaningfully, enhancing their journey, and building loyalty through customized experiences that meet individual needs.

5. Building Trust: The Bedrock of Effective PR

In today’s world, where trust is a precious commodity, transparency is key. Consumers demand clear, honest information about drug efficacy, safety, and pricing. Effective PR strategies now more than ever require a steadfast commitment to transparency, involving proactive disclosures, engaging with stakeholders across multiple channels, and responding openly to public inquiries.

Bringing It Together

Communications for the pharmaceutical industry has always required agility, innovation, and ethical communication. Applying these skills to current consumer expectations will help to ensure that you not only meet but exceed the expectations of your audiences.

For those looking to delve deeper into how these trends can be applied to advance your brand and communication goals, reach out to JPA Health. Let’s explore how we can elevate your strategies together in this dynamic landscape.

Learn More

Discover how JPA Health can transform your 2024 pharma marketing strategy. Contact us today!

By: Diane Wass, Rebecca Taylor and Sarika Varma

Previous Account Director at JPA Health, now Policy Manager at Endometriosis UK, Rebecca Taylor speaks to us about the changes needed to improve patient care and the vital work Endometriosis UK is doing to help reduce the impact of endometriosis on patients.

Estimated to affect 10% of women and those assigned female at birth worldwide, endometriosis is a menstrual health condition, where cells like the ones in the lining of the uterus, are found elsewhere in the body.[1] With each menstrual cycle, these cells behave as endometrial cells in the uterus normally would, by thickening, breaking down and bleeding. However, unlike the cells in the uterus that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to exit the body and, therefore, becomes trapped, causing inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue.[2] It is estimated that around 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth in the UK have endometriosis and the average time taken to diagnose the condition is eight years.[3] Talking to Rebecca Taylor, we discuss why there are delays to obtaining a diagnosis, what their biggest unmet need is, and what the treatment options are for patients.

Considering how prevalent the disease is, why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?

I like to present this answer as a series of barriers that individuals face when it comes to obtaining a diagnosis. The first barrier is individual awareness. Even though the prevalence of the disease is high, public awareness around the disease is low. Therefore, many who have been experiencing symptoms for years are unaware that they should be seeking medical care.

The second barrier is friends and family awareness; this is when those who are experiencing symptoms open up to a friend or a family member about their symptoms and are met with disregard. In this situation people will often hear “oh that’s just part of being a woman” and “it’s normal for periods to be painful”, resulting in them not seeking medical care, as they believe their symptoms to be “normal”.

The third barrier is healthcare professional (HCP) awareness, which occurs when those experiencing symptoms go to their healthcare provider who either dismisses their symptoms or investigates them for another condition that has similar symptoms, for example IBS. Endometriosis is a syndrome, where patients can experience a wide range of symptoms that are also common to other diseases and it can, therefore, be misdiagnosed. In addition to this, depending on how the disease presents itself, it cannot always be detected using scans, and in such cases a diagnostic laparoscopy (a form of keyhole surgery) is needed to confirm the disease. In the UK, the current pandemic related backlog in gynaecology and endometriosis specialist centres including diagnostic laparoscopy has also contributed to the delay in diagnosis. A new report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists estimates that gynaecology waiting lists across the UK have now reached a combined figure of over 570,000 women, just over a 60% increase on pre-pandemic levels.[4] However, whilst misdiagnosis and lack of access to gynaecology and endometriosis specialist centres contributes to this delay, really the biggest hurdle to achieving a diagnosis is lack of awareness, which is ultimately rooted in the harmful misconception, that periods are supposed to be painful.

It’s astonishing that in the UK, it takes on average, almost a decade to achieve a diagnosis. Once patients receive one, are there effective treatment options for them?

Several different therapies exist to treat endometriosis. The most common are hormonal treatments, pain relief, and surgery. Because endometriosis is a spectrum disease, patients can experience a wide range of symptoms and it is, therefore, impossible to say “what the most effective” treatment is. For those experiencing mild-symptoms surgery may not be necessary, whereas for patients who can no longer function on a day-to-day basis due to the pain, surgery may be their best option. Therefore, treatments should be prescribed on a case-by-case basis. For example, we had a woman approach us wanting to find out more about surgery waiting times in her area, as her surgery had been cancelled due to the pandemic. In the meantime, she had been prescribed some pretty heavy-duty opioids to manage her pain, but they made her feel very lethargic. As a stay-at-home mother of four who, as a result of all the lockdowns, ended up with all her children at home, daily life was demanding enough without medication side effects making her more tired. She was finally able to change treatment and get her previous energy levels back. Therefore, when it comes to treatments, we recommend patients and HCPs have an open discussion about what treatment approach is right for them. It is also important to note, that there is currently no cure for endometriosis, and that when diagnosed, only symptomatic treatments are available for the management of the disease.

As endometriosis is a lifelong disease, it must have a large impact on patient’s lives. What is the greatest unmet need for those affected by endometriosis?

Currently, the diagnostic delay is one of the greatest unmet needs for patients. Due to the time it takes for patients to obtain a diagnosis, many patients are left untreated for long periods. When symptoms are severe and left untreated, endometriosis can have a debilitating effect on all aspects of a patient’s life including struggling to go to school or work. Their social life is affected as they don’t have the energy or are in too much pain to leave the house, all of which can have a negative impact on a patient’s mental health, in addition to the physical symptoms that they experience. We had a volunteer, who suffered debilitating symptoms every month and it took her 15 years to get a diagnosis. For 15 years she was told the pain was “normal”, with doctors being completely dismissive of her symptoms. For cases like these, increased awareness of the disease in the healthcare setting is crucial in reducing diagnostic delays.

In addition to the diagnostic delays, there is a population of patients for whom the current treatment options are not effective. Therefore, even when patients receive a diagnosis, some can find themselves unable to manage their symptoms satisfactorily despite trying different treatment options. This illustrates how important it is to have further research into endometriosis to better understand the aetiology of the disease, so that curative treatments, in addition to better symptomatic treatments, can be developed.

You mentioned that increasing awareness of endometriosis is crucial for improving diagnostic delays and patient outcomes. How does Endometriosis UK work to address the unmet needs of patients and raise awareness for the disease?

Here at Endometriosis UK, we work hard to raise awareness for endometriosis across the UK. We work with media outlets, social media channels, and support groups to educate not only the public, but HCPs and decision makers as well. We work with MPs to ensure that the needs of patients are being accurately depicted at the policy level, working towards improving patient outcomes. We have worked with the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop a menstrual wellbeing toolkit, an evidence-based resource for general practitioners and other primary care clinicians to use when diagnosing, supporting, and managing the concerns of patients affected by menstrual health problems.

To support patients in the workforce, we also provide an “Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme”, which allows employers to confirm their commitment to developing a work environment and culture that enables employees with endometriosis to thrive at work. Through this scheme, we can provide guidance to employers on how best to support their employees with endometriosis.

In addition to the information, we have on our website, we have also recently launched a webchat run by trained volunteers, to provide a listening ear to patients looking for advice on how to manage their diagnosis and symptoms. Whilst our volunteers do not offer medical advice, they are there to support those who call in. Many patients come to us looking for understanding and compassion as well as practical information. Which is also why we have support groups all over the country. Endometriosis can have such a huge impact on a patient’s life, with a lack of understanding from the general public and healthcare practitioners, living with the disease can become very isolating. Putting patients in contact with each other and giving them a platform where they can be heard and understood, can help them manage their disease and make them feel less alone.

It seems Endometriosis UK do a lot to help patients manage the disease. On a wider scale, what actions need to be implemented to improve care for those that are experiencing symptoms or have been diagnosed with endometriosis?

Patients require accelerated access to treatment options. Because endometriosis takes so long to diagnose, patients must wait a long time before they are prescribed appropriate treatment options. One way to combat long waiting times is the implementation of a “working diagnosis”. When adopting a “working diagnosis” approach, physicians can treat patients, based on strong suspicion that they have endometriosis, whilst they wait for testing to confirm the diagnosis. This ensures that if patients must wait a long time before they can see a specialist, they are still able to be treated, allowing them to gain access to treatment and, therefore, reduce the symptomatic burden of the disease, much quicker.

Additionally, more streamlined, and effective diagnostic pathways need to be implemented to improve diagnostic timings for endometriosis patients. Reducing unnecessary GP visits, presentations to A&E and referrals to the wrong specialists will most importantly improve the patient experience, but also reduce both the time and money spent by healthcare providers. More training, awareness and support for primary care physicians will be needed to improve the diagnostic pathway for patients.

However, more generally, what really needs to change in both the public and healthcare setting, is to destigmatise the language used around periods and menstrual health and educate the public and clinicians about what is normal and what is not when it comes to periods. Whilst the spectrum of symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle varies significantly, periods that are so painful it renders people unable to function, are not normal. Patients should not feel embarrassed or shy when it comes to speaking up about their menstrual health. It is a natural biological function that can have a huge impact on an individual’s health and quality of life, if there are problems associated with it. Therefore, the general misconception that periods are “dirty” and are “supposed to be painful” need to be debunked, to encourage those experiencing pain or other symptoms to speak up about their menstrual wellbeing. Educating the public about what is and isn’t healthy can have a huge impact to empower patients to go speak to an HCP, should they be experiencing issues with their period.

What resources would you recommend to anyone that may be worried and/ or wants to get more information about endometriosis?

Endometriosis UK’s website is a great resource to start with. We have lots of information on endometriosis, including information on how the disease impacts the body, fertility, and pregnancy. Developed in collaboration with various healthcare practitioners, our information hub contains the latest information and resources aimed to provide guidance to patients on current treatment recommendations and offers strategies for the management of some of the associated symptoms of endometriosis.

For those experiencing symptoms, but are yet to receive a diagnosis, we also provide guidance on how to prepare for a consultation with your primary healthcare physician including keeping a pain and symptoms diary. This diary can be used to help with a diagnosis and can also be used by patients when submitting information for evidence, for example, when claiming for benefits, for work or school/university. We work to make our information available and accessible to everyone in the UK and encourage open conversations about periods and menstrual health in all settings. The more we speak up about the disease, the more we can do to end patient suffering, and end endometriosis.

Concluding Remarks

Endometriosis can be a debilitating, life-long condition, that can affect not only the physical health but mental health of patients. Whilst many treatment options exist, patients are faced with a wall of dismissal and ignorance that prevent them from accessing adequate care in a timely manner. And for those who do not respond to existing treatment options, even after enduring the long process of achieving a diagnosis, they continue to be impacted by the disease, as there is no cure. More needs to be done to end the silence, to end the pain, and to end endometriosis.

At JPA Health, we understand the importance of speaking up about menstrual health and take the wellbeing of our employees seriously. Menstrual health should not only concern women and those who menstruate. We work to cultivate an environment that allows all our employees to thrive.

Speaking about her personal experience with endometriosis, JPA’s Managing Director Diane Wass said, “I remember as a teenager being in acute agony every month, lying on the floor with my feet up on the bed wishing for the next wave of pain to pass. I spent every month literally being sick with the pain, unable to sleep and unable to function. I continued to suffer into my late 30s in excruciating pain where many times I questioned whether I should go to A&E as the pain and bleeding was so extreme. It was only when I had seven miscarriages that the recurrent miscarriage clinic started to explore and discovered I had both extensive endometriosis and adenomyosis. Finally, I had two laparoscopies and a uterine artery embolisation that literally transformed my life. So many times, since then I have questioned how my life may have been so different if as a teenager somebody told me, no it is not okay to be in that level of pain and that you must get it investigated. It is key all of us listen and encourage women or those assigned female at birth at any age to seek medical advice and let them know that – no this is not just part of being a woman.”

Call to action

If you or someone you know has endometriosis, support can be found at https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/get-support. If you would like further information on the brilliant work Endometriosis UK does, please visit their website at https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/.

Originally Posted: June 2022

[1]https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis

[2]https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis

[3]https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/getting-diagnosed-endometriosis

[4]https://rcog.shorthandstories.com/lefttoolong/index.html

I am proud to say I have ADHD. It is what drives my insatiable curiosity and enables me to ask a million questions in parallel. Having a mind that bounces around at a million miles a minute enables you to spot patterns and trends that others miss, and it allows you to dig deeper for insights and conclusions that do not sit in the confines of the metaphorical ‘box’ (or the ‘human-set’ boundaries of an AI-machine learning tool-although I do enjoy them as a partner in my lateral thinking!). I wouldn’t want to give it up, as it is, without a doubt, my biggest gift.

Like many parents of neurodiverse children, my own diagnosis came in my late 40s as a result of my now 12-year-old daughter being diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and dyspraxia.  There is no doubt that when in a ‘one-size fits all’ environment neurodiversity can present with challenges, and nowhere do we see this more than in the environment of mainstream schools where rigidity and lack of flexibility can be completely disabling for our kids. There is still much work to be done in both improving teacher training and creating inclusive spaces and curriculums that enable learning for all.

However, it is not only in our schools and further education environments that we need more inclusive and flexible approaches – we also need this in the workplace too. Not only is this morally the right thing to do, but because some of the most creative, talented people I know are Neurodivergent. It is estimated about 1 in 5¹ people are neurodivergent and can be a source of competitive advantage². Given the right environment, these people can create change and have insights that transform lives.

Did you know- A recent study showed that 40% of self-made millionaires in Britain had a diagnosis of dyslexia³ and there is an association between ADHD and an entrepreneurial mindset in business⁴.

Whilst awareness of Neurodiversity is on the rise, there is still much that needs to be done to foster inclusive and diverse workplaces. As part of this year’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week, The Healthcare Communications Association is launching ‘Thinking Different’- A new campaign to welcome and celebrate neurodiversity across the healthcare communications industry. The campaign provides three great signposting resources:

• Neurodiversity & Me – a guide for those who think differently and would like more information because they’d like to start a conversation about neurodiversity
• Neurodiversity & You – information for whole teams to encourage them to find out more about working with, and having a conversation around, neurodiversity at work
• Thinking Different – a guide for employers and managers on welcoming and celebrating neurodiversity in the workplace

I have the privilege of joining a webinar panel to share how employers can embrace neurodiversity and foster an environment where every individual can contribute their talent. Those wishing to join the introductory webinar discussing the resources and their importance, can join at 1:00 pm GMT on Wednesday 20 March 2024 by registering at: https://bit.ly/48W4nTe

Here at JPA, ‘flexibility’ is key to ensuring we create an inclusive environment. In interviews, we focus on ‘what is actually needed’ for the specific role rather than a ‘one-size’ fits all approach. We adopt flexible working hours and give our employees the opportunity to ‘work at home’ when they need a ‘quiet space’ to focus. Overall, we are flexible on adjustments to the work environment that are tailored to the individual. This flexible, tailored approach, we believe, is at the heart of inclusion and creates an environment in which all our employees can thrive in.

Some other great resources I highly recommend to get you started on promoting neuro-inclusivity in your workplace are:

• The ADHD Foundation ‘Neurodiversity in the Workplace’ resources and services.
• The 2022 winner of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category of the Business Book Awards, ‘Neurodiversity at work’ by Theo Smith and Amanda Kirby, which is a must-read!

In the words of St Catherine of Siena “Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire”.

Diane Wass

Managing Director of JPA Health, International Region

Trustee of the ADHD Foundation-The Neurodiversity Charity

Originally Posted: March 2022

Revised and Updated: March 2024

References

1. Doyle, N. (2020) Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults – PMC (nih.gov); Br Med Bull. 2020 Sep; 135(1): 108–125
2. Information Week, 2023. Neurodiversity hiring will be a competitive advantage. Accessed via: https://www.informationweek.com/it-leadership/neurodiversity-hiring-will-be-a-competitive-advantage (Last accessed: March 2024)
3. Alexander-Passe, N. (2015). Perceptions of success in Dyslexic adults in the UK
4. Moore, C. B., McIntyre, N. H., Lanivich S E (2021) ADHD-Related Neurodiversity and the Entrepreneurial Mindset

By Vanessa Grzyboski and Kamilah Guiden

Imagine living in an area where the air is thick with pollutants and the water is tainted with toxins. This is the reality for many Black and Brown communities every day. From North Carolina’s industrial pork production hubs to the infamous “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana, environmental injustice disproportionately affects populations who are under-resourced nationwide.

The Health Impact is Real

In North Carolina and beyond, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are causing serious environmental issues. These facilities, housing animals for meat, dairy, or egg production, often store waste in open-air pits. Despite efforts to recycle nutrients by dispersing waste over cropland, this practice frequently leads to animal waste, including feces and urine, seeping into the surrounding environment.

Living near CAFOs has alarming health implications for people, including increased rates of asthma, anemia, kidney disease, infant mortality, and infections compared to rural areas without CAFOs. Communities with lower incomes and communities of color are more likely to be located near these industrial sites and, thus, are more likely to experience the associated health impacts.

Another hotspot of industrial activity is “Cancer Alley,” an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River that houses about a quarter of the U.S.’s total petrochemical production and 150 oil refineries, plastic processing plants, and chemical facilities. Here, too, the predominantly Black communities bear the brunt of environmental health injustice. The historical aftermath of Jim Crow laws and zoning regulations heighten the health hazards, which include a much higher cancer risk due to toxic air pollution, with estimates ranging from 104 to 105 cases per million—far beyond the 60 to 75 cases per million in predominantly white areas. Despite national improvements in air quality, Louisiana’s progress lags behind the rest of the country, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions and systemic reforms.

Disparities Growing Worse Among Communities of Color

Despite the illegality of discriminatory practices such as redlining and Jim Crow laws, the roots of these disparities continue to run deep, confining people of color to impoverished, polluted areas generations later.

Recent findings from the National Minority Quality Health Forum and CEO Roundtable on Cancer shed further light on the worsening disparities communities of color face. More than half (56%) of these communities live near sites emitting carcinogens, heightening their vulnerability to cancer. Black communities are disproportionately impacted, as they are up to 9% more likely to share watershed with industrial facilities and up to 13% more at risk for their community water systems to be near a wastewater treatment plant.

Governmental negligence and mismanagement make matters worse, leading to underinvestment in neighborhoods, high poverty rates, and declining public facilities. The Flint, Michigan, water crisis is one example, where a decision to switch water sources led to severe lead contamination. Similarly, in Washington, D.C., public housing construction near the Kenilworth Dump exposed people to toxic pollution, culminating in tragedies like the death of Kelvin Tyrone Mock. Despite closure, the area remains contaminated with toxic residue to this day.

Climate Change Creating More Urgency

Climate change adds another layer to these already dire circumstances; people who live in under-resourced communities face increased risks as severe weather events become more frequent and intense. Take the predominantly Black neighborhood of Centreville, Illinois, for example. After heavy rainfall and flash floods, residents dealt with immediate flooding and water lingering in their homes and streets for a long time. Neglected infrastructure, a product of structural racism, compounded the issue with sewage backups, further endangering residents’ well-being.

These incidents show an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address historical injustices and climate change’s looming threats. Without swift action, communities that are disadvantaged will continue to shoulder the biggest burden of environmental crises.

Addressing This Complex Health Challenge Together

The concept of One Health emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, highlighting collaboration across disciplines to address health challenges. However, JPA’s recent report on One Health reveals a troubling trend: stakeholders in animal, human, and environmental health often operate in siloes, while policymakers remain detached from the broader conversation. This disconnected approach makes it even harder to confront complex public health issues.

Tackling these complex challenges necessitates a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach that includes the following key elements:

• Build local and national coalitions committed to preventing disease and promoting well-being, fostering collaboration among stakeholders from various sectors.
• Prioritize community engagement and empowerment as essential components of the strategy.
• Actively involve those affected by environmental injustice and amplify their voices in policy discussions to ensure that the needs of impacted communities inform solutions moving forward.
• Launch a focused educational campaign aimed directly at highlighting the urgent need to invest in targeted health interventions within affected communities, paving the way for more concrete and meaningful progress.

This year, let Black History Month serve as a reminder: the disparities outlined here are not inevitable outcomes—they are the direct result of systemic injustices that demand our collective attention and action. It’s time to step up together and take decisive action. Our environment isn’t merely a backdrop; it is the very foundation of our health and well-being.

Sources:

• How Black North Carolinians pay the price for the world’s cheap bacon
• Why Louisiana’s Air Quality Is Going From Bad to Worse, in 3 Charts
• Welcome to “Cancer Alley,” Where Toxic Air Is About to Get Worse
• What Is Environmental Racism?
• Unprecedented Rain Highlights Deep Inequities in Centreville
• Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know
• Advocates Are Sparking a Revolution in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley”
• Policymakers, Patients, and Industry Join National Minority Quality Forum To Raise Alarm of Cancer Care Disparities in Minoritized Communities to White House Cancer Moonshot
• A ‘Forgotten History’ Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America
• Anacostia: Unbroken
• Healthy People 2030: Environmental Conditions
• Asthma Symptoms Among Adolescents Who Attend Public Schools That Are Located Near Confined Swine Feeding Operations