Defining health equity: A modern US perspective

Health equity is a concept that has gained increasing attention and relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed and exacerbated the health disparities and inequities among different population groups in the United States. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the historical, theoretical, and empirical foundations of health equity, as well as the challenges and opportunities for advancing it in the modern US society. By adopting an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach, and by drawing on literature from public health, sociology, economics, and human rights, we argue that health equity is not only a matter of fairness and justice, but also a strategic and pragmatic goal for improving the health and well-being of the entire nation. Here, we propose a modern definition of health equity for the US context, and conclude with some recommendations for policy, practice, and research to promote health equity in the US.