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Health Equity

Health Equity

Health Equity

Racial health disparities first appear at birth and never go away. Black babies have higher infant mortality rates than their white peers; black mothers die in childbirth at three times the rate of white mothers; and black Americans, despite having roughly the same occurrence of cardiovascular disease as white Americans, are thirty percent more likely to die from it.

In order to eliminate racial/ethnic and gender disparities in health, we must investigate the sociocultural, economic, and structural indicators of health in both risk assessment and risk prevention efforts. Cook Center researchers, often through the Center’s Health Equity Working Group, use an interdisciplinary approach to move beyond the acknowledgement of disparities toward a more complete understanding the root causes of both positive and negative health outcomes. From there, they inform practitioners, researchers and community health organizers on strength-based approaches to health.

The Health Equity Working Group uses a holistic approach to understanding and achieving health equity. Investigating the sociocultural, economic, and structural indicators of health is necessary in both risk assessment and risk prevention efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic and gender disparities in health. The Health Equity Working Group deploys an interdisciplinary approach to move beyond the acknowledgement of disparities toward understanding the root causes of both positive and negative health outcomes. We use this understanding to inform practitioners, researchers, and community health organizers on strength-based approaches to health. Our working group includes the broad intersections of race, gender, wealth, and health.

 

Team Members

Research & Publications

Testing Intergroup Contact Theory Through a Natural Experiment of Randomized College Roommate Assignments in the United States

Authors: Analía F. Albuja, Sarah E. Gaither, Diana T. Sanchez, and Jaelyn Nixon Journal: Journal…

Overhead view on black letters carved on small wooden blocks spelling wealth or health on wood table surface

Foreword – Special Issue on Health Equity

Authors: Mónica García-Pérez Journal: American Journal of Health Economics Abstract: This special issue of the American…

Blue measuring scale with a red tape measure.

Black Feminism and Womanism: A Narrative Review of the Weight Loss Literature

Authors: Loneke T. Blackman Carr and Jameta Nicole Barlow Journal: Ethnicity & Disease Abstract: Black…

heart-shaped bowl of fruits and vegetables, diabetes instrument

Food as Medicine: FOODRx for Patients with Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Central Minnesota—A PILOT STUDY

Authors: Mónica García-Pérez, Alexandra De Kesel Lofthus, David Tilstra, Kevin Switzer, and Kristen Williamson Journal:…

man walking on sidewalk

Race, Racism, and Covid-19 in the US: Lessons Not Learnt

Race, Racism, and Covid-19 in the US: Lessons Not Learnt Journal: British Medical Journal (BMJ)…

Race differences in patient trust and distrust from audio-recorded cardiology encounters

Authors: Sarah V. Hantzmon, Clemontina A. Davenport, Maya N. Das Gupta, Temi A. Adekunle, Sarah…

person stacking blocks that have medical icons on them

Unraveling the Hispanic Health Paradox

Authors: José Fernandez, Mónica García-Pérez, and Sandra Orozco-Aleman Abstract: In 2019, Hispanics in the US…

Book Chapter – Considering Multiracial Youth: Identity Challenges and Health Outcomes

Authors: Brenda Straka and Sarah Gaither Abstract: Health professionals who care for children will find…