Public Health Priorities

The Acting Surgeon General, RADM Galson, has named four areas of focus in addressing public health concerns: disease prevention, eliminating health disparities, public health preparedness, and improving health literacy.

• Disease Prevention: Through HHS initiatives such as Steps to a HealthierUS, Healthy Lifestyles & Disease Prevention, and the Small Steps Campaign, we are encouraging American families to take small, manageable steps within their current lifestyle — versus drastic changes — to ensure long-term health.
• Eliminating Health Disparities: We are conducting additional research into the problem of health disparities through our research institutes such as the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Cancer Institute.
• Public Health Preparedness: Increased use of volunteers through the Medical Reserve Corps is one of the many initiatives the Surgeon General’s Office/HHS is helping with preparedness.
• Improving Health Literacy: Increased publicity and awareness about the importance of strengthening health literacy is being supported through such efforts as the Surgeon General’s Workshop on Improving Health Literacy.