Opening Plenary Session

Health disparities research typically compares ethnic/racial minorities' mortality and morbidity rates with those of Whites. Scant attention has been given to outcomes that indicate good health among ethnicminority communities. This approach misses valuable opportunities to generate useful knowledge on when to intervene and on how to strengthen what works before it stops working. With its historical roots and mission in social justice, social work is perfectly poised to be the scientific field driving health equity research particularly with its research emphasis on the design of culturally-derived and communitybased research; its emphasis on holistic, cultural protective factors, strengths, and resiliency; and the development of novel culturallygrounded and theory-driven health interventions that deeply address socio-cultural context. The speakers will highlight how social work health equity research is poised to generate a more accurate and culturally-grounded health equity story. Intervention studies conducted in partnership with Latino/a and First Nations communities and addressing specific social and cultural determinants of health will be showcased. Social work contributions to the field and allied health disciplines, opportunities for future research, and the importance of training researchers, educators, and leaders in the field of health equity will be highlighted throughout the presentation.