COSSA's Open Letter to the Honorable Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services |
February 22, 2001
The Honorable Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Mr. Secretary:
On behalf of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), I would like to welcome you to Washington as you begin your term in office. We are pleased to see that President Bush has placed a high priority on funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but we hope that emphasis will also be given to funding the other health agencies so that cutting-edge research can be best applied to prevailing medical practices.
COSSA is an advocacy organization supported by more than 100 professional associations, scientific societies, universities, and research institutions. It stands alone in representing the full range of social and behavioral sciences, serving as a bridge between the academic research community and the Washington policymaking arena. We write to you regarding the pending appointment of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
As you consider candidates and make your recommendations to the President regarding this vital position, we urge you to select an individual who is conscious and supportive of the role social and behavioral science research plays in improving the health of Americans. Research in these fields has long been a staple both within your Department and other Federal Government agencies. As you know, it will be the job of the Assistant Secretary not only to oversee professionals at NIH, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, but also to work with other Administration officials outside of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to synthesize and promote research efforts for the benefit of mankind.
Social and behavioral science research can make powerful contributions to preventing and treating illnesses by identifying the environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors that lead people to engage in healthy behaviors, seek health services before disease symptoms intensify, and participate with medical professionals in the treatment process. These factors are becoming increasingly important to the health community as scientific advances force us to recognize that biological and genetic markers have only limited capabilities to predict who will get sick. Enhancing social and behavioral research efforts, therefore, is essential to helping all Americans reach their full health potential, thus increasing our nation's productivity.
This is a critical moment in your Department's mission. Americans enjoy better health today than ever before, yet studies have proven that 50 percent of deaths are linked to social and behavioral influences. This is especially true in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Recent articles in Science magazine and other publications have indicated the importance of social and behavioral factors for the delivery and use of AIDS medicines. A vaccine for this debilitating disease is still several years away, and as a result, right now the only way to halt its spread is through prevention. Social and behavioral science research supported by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) is focused on identifying the best prevention measures, and this support is paying off. In the last four years, OAR funded research has identified factors associated with high-risk groups (women, injection drug users, and racial and ethnic minorities) that can lead to healthier lifestyles to evade contracting HIV.
In addition, with its recent increased focus on social and behavioral research, the National Cancer Institute is beginning to make great strides in the fight to identify the factors and interventions against preventable instances of cancer. With the support of your office and an Assistant Secretary who is attuned to the critical role social and behavioral science research plays in health promotion and disease prevention, we can build on these successes to stop the spread of these diseases.
In addition to fighting HIV/AIDS and cancer, researchers in our fields have made invaluable contributions to HHS efforts aimed at preventing several other devastating diseases, including alcoholism, heart disease, mental disorders, drug abuse, and the afflictions associated with aging, sedentary lifestyles, and tobacco use. Social and behavioral science research plays a vital part in promoting public health, and COSSA urges you to keep this in mind as you proceed with the Assistant Secretary for Health appointment process. If we can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us at (202) 842-3525. We send our best wishes for the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Howard J. Silver
Executive Director