- 5 min read

Episode #78 Interview with Dr. Sandy-Asari Hogan, President of SAAPHI

The Society for the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI) consists of researchers, academics, professionals, and students who share an interest and passion in improving the health of African American communities. This is accomplished through research, leadership/mentorship and policy. SAAPHI continues to grow and poise itself as a premier research and education organization dedicated to examining the role of race, and more specifically racism, as a contributing factor in determining the health status of African Americans.

My special guest in this episode is Dr. Sandy-Asari Hogan, who is the current president of SAAPHI. She describes herself as having the passion for translation of research to practice and describes herself as a “disrupter of disparity and elevator of equity”. In essence, she sees herself as a bridge between research and practice.

(Links to connect with Dr. Hogan and SAAPHI can be found at the bottom of this page.)

Dr. Hogan's Background

Dr. Hogan is currently an ORISE Evaluation Fellow who provides evaluation related technical assistance to local and state health departments across the U.S. evaluating and disseminating strategies that address various injury related topics. Additionally, she provides evaluation, technical assistance for initiatives focused on improving data collection and analysis, as well as developing strategies, programs and partnerships to address opioid misuse abuse, and overdose. Previously, she served as the Maternal & Child Health Director for the Dallas & Fort Worth March of Dimes, where she facilitated the implementation and evaluation of key programs to reduce infant mortality disparities, coordinated high level local maternal and child health volunteers, and explored opportunities to address inequity. Prior to this, she served as a policy analyst/doctoral resident in the Department of Government Relations at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas.

SAAPHI: Definition and Background

The Society for the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI) is 501c3 organization founded in 1991 by Dr. William (Bill) Jenkins that consists of researchers, academics, professionals and students who share an interest and passion in improving the health of African American communities. This is accomplished through research, leadership/mentorship and policy. SAAPHI continues to grow and poise itself as a premier research and education organization dedicated to examining the role of race, and more specifically racism, as a contributing factor in determining the health status of African Americans.

SAAPHI: Mission

SAAPHI leaders are currently in the process of updating their mission. In the past it has been heavily focused on research and unearthing health disparities through research and analysis. Over the years, the focus of SAAPHI has become less prescriptive in that, while research in the area of disparities is still critical to the work of SAAPHI, it has shifted into a space of promoting leadership in the promotion of health and well-being through the development of students and early career professionals, as well as being intentional about the use of research and practice to inform policy development and decision making which is rather new for many of the leaders of SAAPHI.

SAAPHI: Major Accomplishments

SAAPHI hosted the first conference in Atlanta, GA on November 9-10, 1991 at the First Congregational Church birthplace of The National Medical Association (1895), the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (1908), and the National Bar Association (1925).

SAAPHI drafted official policy documents on disparities and an Action Plan that formed the basis for the adoption of two resolutions as official American Public Health Association (APHA) policy (2001 & 2002)

SAAPHI members who served on the APHA Action Board created and sustained a Health Disparities Working Group of the Action Board for four years; prepared the health disparities section on the APHA Web site; developed a “Solutions” database for the elimination of health disparities and devoted the 2000 Public Health Week to the elimination of health disparities (2000)

Joined the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology (now the International Network For Epidemiology in Policy (INEP)) and participated on the planning of the First, Second, and Third North American Congress of Epidemiology (2001)

Recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization by the United Nations and invited to attend the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa. SAAPHI’s then President Dr. Camara Jones attended as a SAAPHI delegate (2001).

Secured its first grant from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to host a workshop entitled: “Setting a Strategic Direction for SAAPHI: Workforce Development, Public Health Practice and Research focused on African-Americans” (2006).

Instituted the annual SAAPHI Student Achievement Awards, where competitive monetary awards are presented to students for the best student presentations delivered at the annual SAAPHI meeting (2007).

In collaboration with the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, developed a teaching curriculum to educate students and faculty about health disparities in disease prevalence (2008).

Joined the National Salt Reduction Initiative to work with other health organizations and public agencies to achieve the goal of reducing population salt intake by at least 20% over five years by setting targets and monitoring progress through a transparent, public process (2008).

Obtained nonprofit (501[c] 3) status (2010).

SAAPHI host the first ever mentoring roundtable in San Diego with world renowned thought leaders, researchers and practitioners in the field of health disparities (2012).

SAAPHI Endorsed International Network For Epidemiology in Policy (INEP) policy statements “The Role of Epidemiology in Firearm Violence Prevention: A Policy Brief (2018), Climate Change and Epidemiology (2018), as well Gender Equity in Epidemiology (2018)

Co-authored a policy statement with the APHA Epidemiology Section entitled “Key Opportunities for Achieving Health Equity in the United States“ accepted as an American Public Health Association (APHA) policy at its 146th Annual Meeting (2018).

SAAPHI: Activities, Conferences, Trainings

Yearly Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium | Each year SAAPHI hosts an annual meeting on relevant topics impact the African Diaspora, inviting top level researchers and content experts.

Mentoring Webinars & Round Tables | SAAPHI hosts webinars focused on development of students and early career professionals focused on various topics, as well as roundtables allowing students and early career professionals the opportunity to engage with top level researchers and practitioners in public health.

Science & Policy Webinars | SAAPHI hosts webinars purposed in building the capacity of SAAPHI members and stakeholders to use research and practice.

Monthly Leadership & Committee Calls | Monthly management calls allow leadership and SAAPHI members to be connected to and get involved in the work of SAAPHI.