The OBSSR Strategic Plan is grounded in the principle of health for all. This is achieved when everyone has the best opportunity to be as healthy as possible. BSSR can contribute to this principle by identifying and addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities and impede health and well-being for all people.

There are persistent health disparities in the United States,⁵ based on such factors as race/ethnicity, sex, sexual minority status, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and geographic location. Many of these disparities stem from differences across social determinants of health (SDOH). 

SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, play, live, and age, as well as the wider set of structural factors that shape daily life. BSSR plays a crucial role in examining SDOH, understanding the root causes of health disparities, identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disparities, and proposing strategies for achieving health for all.

OBSSR has a long history of supporting research initiatives that address health disparities, opportunities for underrepresented groups in scientific fields, and policy matters affecting populations that experience deficits. We look forward to building on this research and collaborating with our NIH and federal partners to promote and implement larger government initiatives that advance health for all. 

OBSSR is committed to research that furthers all priorities of the plan to advance health for all, including:

• Improving maternal health outcomes to reduce disparities
• Preventing neglect and improving care to help children thrive in their families and communities
• Promoting accessible and welcoming health care for all
• Prioritizing the behavioral health of people who are most likely to experience disparities
• Increasing participation in clinical trials and research to drive innovation

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