May is designated by Presidential Proclamation as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sponsored a 2011 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month program on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Diversity, Leadership, Empowerment and Beyond.”

CMS hosted Dr. Howard K. Koh, the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The title of Dr. Koh’s speech was “Eliminating Health Disparities through the Affordable Care Act and Beyond.”

As the Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Koh oversees the HHS Office of Assistant Secretary for Health, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Office of the Surgeon General. Dr. Koh also serves as senior public health advisor to the Secretary. Dr. Koh oversees an interdisciplinary program relating to disease prevention, health promotion, the reduction of health disparities, women’s and minority health, HIV/AIDS, vaccine programs, physical fitness and sports, bioethics, population affairs, blood supply, research integrity and human research protections.

CMS was honored to have Dr. Koh host the event and for the opportunity to hear from an expert in the field of health policy.