Investigated cancer genomics to explain higher rate and mortality from prostate cancer among Black men and other underserved populations.
Author: Disparity Matters
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders face dramatically higher risks for certain types of cancer compared to White Americans, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. The report highlights significant racial disparities in cancer rates and outcomes. For Chinese, Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese people in the U.S., cancer is the leading cause of death. It ranks second for Asian Indian, Native Hawaiian and Japanese people.Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups face particularly stark disparities. They are 75% more likely to die from liver cancer and two to three times more likely to die from cervical, stomach and…
Founded a Hispanic Psychiatry Fellowship and expanded mental-health services tailored for Latinos with limited English proficiency.
Looming abortion bans in Florida and Arizona could have dire consequences for Black reproductive health, exacerbating existing disparities in access to care and maternal mortality rates. Florida’s six-week ban, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, is set to take effect on May 1, while Arizona’s Supreme Court has paved the way to reinforce a Civil War-era law criminalizing nearly all abortions. Over half of the country’s Black population resides in the Southeast, where many of the strictest abortion laws have taken hold, backed largely by Republican lawmakers. Ciné Julien, a reproductive justice organizer for Florida Access Network, stated,…
A new study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health reveals a troubling connection between structural racism and increased rates of heart disease, even as the agency itself faces criticism for downplaying such research. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study found that neighborhoods with high levels of structural racism—measured through factors like education, housing, employment, and poverty—had significantly higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. “The people who live in that neighborhood, regardless of their race, are experiencing those outcomes,” said co-author Zachary Dyer. His index shows that living in areas shaped by racialized policies can negatively…
A new study from the University of Michigan highlights how state abortion bans disproportionately impact American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black women’s access to reproductive health services. Researchers analyzed data from the Guttmacher Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, finding significant racial and ethnic disparities in abortion rates. American Indian and Alaska Native women had the highest abortion rates at 14.8 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, followed by Black women at 11.9 per 1,000. “These higher rates likely reflect systemic barriers to contraceptive access and use,” said lead author Alyssa Tilhou, a graduate student in the Department…
A groundbreaking study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers has uncovered a striking 10-year gap in life expectancy between the wealthiest and poorest individuals in a predominantly Black population. Led by Dr. Wei Zheng, director of the Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, the study analyzed data from 19,749 deaths over an 18-year period. The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, revealed that participants earning less than $15,000 annually died over a decade earlier on average compared to those with incomes exceeding $50,000. The research team emphasized the importance of addressing racial and income disparities in mortality through comprehensive measures.…
Poverty poses a greater risk of premature death than smoking for low-income individuals in the United States, according to a new study by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The study analyzed data from 79,385 participants aged 40 to 79 in the Southern Community Cohort Study. Over two-thirds of the participants were Black, and more than half reported an annual household income of less than $15,000. During the 18-year follow-up period, the researchers observed 19,749 deaths among the participants. Strikingly, both Black and white individuals earning less than $15,000 per year died, on average, more than 10 years earlier than…
Developed cancer screening strategies for effectiveness across diverse populations.
Tackled lung-cancer screening inequities by creating decision aids and outreach tools for underserved, high-risk populations.