Big Cities Health Coalition

Two-thirds of the nation's population lives in the top 100 metropolitan areas. In November 2002 the leaders of some the largest municipal health departments in the U.S. formed the Big Cities Health Coalition. 17 of the largest cities in the US joined to regularly exchange best practices and discuss the issues affecting urban populations. Almost 15% of the U.S. population is served by the health departments in the Coalition, which holds quarterly conference calls. Topics that have been discussed include terrorism preparedness, the West Nile Virus, tuberculosis, chronic disease, substance abuse and environmental disease.

On May 8, 2009 the Coalition came together for the first in-person meeting, made possible with grant funding. To read a report summarizing the recommendations coming out of the meeting click here.