Xavier Becerra and Renee Wegrzyn Emphasize Health Inequality in San Diego County: National Latino Health Tour and ARPA-H’s Women’s Health Initiative

Xavier Becerra, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, visited San Diego County on Friday as part of a nationwide campaign to promote health care equity. During his visit, he emphasized the importance of addressing health inequities faced by Latinos and communities of color as part of his National Latino Health Tour.

ARPA-H, a federal agency launched in 2022 that funds new and innovative approaches to health, hosted the event at San Diego State University. Becerra invited researchers and innovators from minority-serving institutions across California to explore new ways to improve diversity, access, and inclusion in clinical trials.

Becerra highlighted cancer as a leading cause of death among Latinos and emphasized the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to participate in clinical trials. He stressed the importance of research outcomes benefiting everyone in the country.

ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn also spoke at the event and highlighted women’s health as a top priority for the agency. She announced that ARPA-H has recently invested $100 million in women’s health research. Wegrzyn mentioned that they are looking at innovative ways to bring healthcare services to the home, as many individuals face challenges in finding time to visit the doctor due to responsibilities like caring for children and elderly parents while working. ARPA-H has already allocated more than $10 million to projects in San Diego County.