Recent conversations have centered on the dynamic interplay of factors that drive disease epidemics, including characteristics of the host and infectious agent, social determinants, and the effectiveness of prevention and control interventions. While excellence in the implementation of our prevention programs remains paramount, growing epidemic concentration among the socioeconomically disadvantaged demands more integrated, comprehensive, and upstream-focused prevention programs. CDC is responding to this challenge by encouraging greater program collaboration and service integration and focusing on the social determinants of health. In addition, we have recently embarked upon a new initiative aimed at advancing sexual health. These initiatives, grounded in evidence, support our disease-specific priorities and help create more balanced prevention portfolios. Please join this conversation and this journey as we move forward.

Public Health Reports Special Edition

We are pleased to announce the publication of the Public Health Reports supplement that for the first time focuses on Social Determinants of Health in the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis. This is a groundbreaking issue, exemplifying a commitment to understand the influence of social determinants on health and to integrate these elements into our prevention work. By integrating a social-determinants-of-health framework within the context of our focus diseases, we will be better able to address the health risks of those we serve.

Research and commentary are presented on community and societal characteristics, such as the effects of incarceration and the differences in HIV transmission among foreign-born and native-born people; income and/or social status, including registered and nonregistered female sex workers; stigma; and education.

NCHHSTP Director Dr. Kevin Fenton and Deputy Director Dr. Hazel Dean are guest editors for this supplement, which also includes commentary and a viewpoint penned by former CDC Directors Drs. David Satcher and William Foege, respectively. Please read the articles at www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants.

July 11–14
International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases

July 18–23
International AIDS Conference

August 10–12
TB Education and Training Network Annual Conference

August 17–19
National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media

Health Protection Perspectives NCHHSTP Leadership Blog

We have recently launched a new HIV initiative called HIV Screening. Standard Care. (HSSC). This effort is designed to help physicians make HIV testing a standard part of their patients' medical care and to increase implementation of CDC's 2006 HIV screening recommendations, which advise that all patients between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once as a routine part of medical care and that individuals at high risk be tested at least annually. HSSC is the latest component of CDC's Act Against AIDS campaign, launched last year to refocus national attention on the U.S. HIV epidemic. HSSC provides educational tools for physicians in primary care settings, including an annotated physician's guide to CDC's HIV screening recommendations and patient materials about HIV and the importance of getting tested, that can be placed in waiting rooms.