Taking charge: making partnerships work for better health outcomes.

The ambitious goal of eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care will require a strong message, creative approaches and close collaboration by public and private partners across the health system, Dr. James Gavin, new president of Morehouse School of Medicine, told the audience at the closing session of the Primary Care Conference. The goal cannot be reached without ‘‘a concerted and sustained focus on development of effective, integrated interagency and cross-organizational partnerships,’’ he said. ‘‘This conference has addressed issues that are at the very core of our efforts at the Morehouse School of Medicine to train physicians, healthcare providers, leaders, and physicianscientists to serve the medically under-served, especially those who are burdened by the impact of health disparities,’’ Dr. Gavin said. ‘‘The impact of health disparities is so devastating because the safety net is in tatters, the system is seriously broken, and the partnerships for effective repair are not sufficiently in place,’’ he stated. ‘‘We must take charge.’’