If there was ever a time to flex our collective muscles for creative language and communication strategies for health equity, it’s now. The political landscape has shifted dramatically away from equity and social justice. Ensuring that we have adequate messaging tools to address health inequities and the social drivers of health is more important now… Read More » Author information Alison T. Brill Alison T. Brill (she/her), MPH, is a public health consultant specializing in equity-based training and technical assistance, capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration within health departments and community organizations. She develops collaborative and effective strategies to improve community health and create systemic change. Alison also serves as the Chair of the APHA Medical Care Section's Health Equity Committee. She holds a Master's of Public Health from Boston University, and a BA in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Iowa. | The post Language and Communication Strategies for Health Equity appeared first on The Medical Care Blog.
If there was ever a time to flex our collective muscles for creative language and communication strategies for health equity, it’s now. The political landscape has shifted dramatically away from equity and social justice. Ensuring that we have adequate messaging tools to address health inequities and the social drivers of health is more important now than ever.
Public health is, almost by definition, health equity and social justice work. We have a century of experience working in fringe or controversial areas like immigrant health, care for the poor, sexual health, drug and alcohol use, etc. As a result, public health and healthcare professionals are experts in adapting, pivoting, and innovating our communications to get our work done.
In the face of federal efforts to erase equity, we need effective communications strategies to ensure that health equity and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) work can continue. The health and well-being of communities of color, low-income people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, rural communities, and other marginalized groups depends on our ability to navigate these volatile times with tenacity, courage, and grace.
Navigating DEIA Directives 
Language around health equity, systemic and institutional racism, and oppression has been fraught and polarized for many years. In this era of suppression of inclusive speech, the conservative backlash against health equity and public health has led to canceling thousands of research grants and defunding public health programs to the tune of at least $11 billion.
How do we navigate the new directives while staying true to our personal and organizational missions and values? Employing creative communication strategies when encountering opposition is an important way of resisting the backlash to these so-called ‘divisive concepts’. Moreover, using plain and direct language about health equity helps to counter misinformation about health equity.
How do we report on services, programs, and policies for specific populations if we can’t use demographic information to describe or identify them? How do we do justice to the concept of systemic racism, oppression, and discrimination if we are unable to use these words and concepts? These are just some of the real questions that so many public health communicators are grappling with right now.
The process of disguising critical terminology comes with risks. Diluted language can jeopardize the integrity of public health’s core values and health justice work. The practice of public health also risks losing our collective histories when we camouflage our true work using watered down terms. Our victories, significant achievements in research, practice, and advocacy, as well as the challenges along the way, require the language of health equity. It’s critical that we push back against these mandates whenever possible in order to stay true to our personal and organizational values, as well as the Public Health Code of Ethics.
Managing the Pressure
To be sure, there is a great deal of pressure that comes with traversing the new directives, especially for health leaders. FrameWorks Institute offers some tools for managing the pressure that comes with mandates that don’t align with our personal and organizational values. One such strategic question to consider is thinking deeply about whether you do in fact have a choice not to change your language, and considering how and why you are making that choice.
For example, through one’s identities, position in an organization, or political connections, some people may feel safer than others to speak out. With privilege comes power and responsibility. Those of us that can speak have a responsibility to do so in whatever ways we can – speaking up at meetings or in the community, writing, or making politically conscious art.
Terminology Alternatives
If you or your organization need to change your language to continue practicing health equity, below are some terms that you might use. Additionally, focusing on fairness, respect, dignity, and partnership speak directly to health equity concepts in a different, but direct way. Using terms like “health for all” and “no one left behind” can also be helpful.
Source: This Week in Public Health, March 4, 2025
Moral Courage and Authentic Leadership for Health Equity
For people who work at organizations compliant with the Trump administration’s directives, even greater challenges to practicing health equity exist. Many public health and healthcare professionals are having to make tough decisions about staying at a job for economic security even when it no longer aligns with their personal values.
On the flip side, many organizations and institutions, including the American Public Health Association, are showing their strong moral courage by speaking out against unscientific policy-making, poor health leadership, and destructive health policies. We need more authentic leadership in public health and medicine, which has been shown to improve patient care and employee satisfaction.
And we are ready for young public health professionals to step up and lead.
Ideas for Allyship
Working toward health equity at this time can be mentally and emotionally taxing. That’s why it’s important to find allies and a supportive community to do this work, share resources and ideas, and find mutual support. Other ideas for allyship include:
- Identify and connect with outspoken allies resisting Trump’s agenda, like Harvard University and APHA. Build your base and grow and strengthen your alliances to form more powerful unions.
- Partner with national employee resource groups, associations, and community-based nonprofits, such as Health In Partnership, Partners for Advancing Health Equity, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- Connect and learn from national, strategic advocacy groups like Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Movement for Black Lives, and Working Families Party.
Within challenge lies opportunity. Let’s use our collective energy and expertise to adapt, when necessary, our language and communication strategies for health equity so that our public health messages are heard by the people who need them.
Author information
Alison T. Brill
Alison T. Brill (she/her), MPH, is a public health consultant specializing in equity-based training and technical assistance, capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration within health departments and community organizations. She develops collaborative and effective strategies to improve community health and create systemic change. Alison also serves as the Chair of the APHA Medical Care Section's Health Equity Committee. She holds a Master's of Public Health from Boston University, and a BA in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Iowa.
The post Language and Communication Strategies for Health Equity appeared first on The Medical Care Blog.
