Creating with Arizona State University a Well-Being Hub to enhance quality of life where disparity in life expectancy is most pronounced
Author: Disparity Matters
Dr. Bryant Lin has spent years working to close the health care gap for Asian Americans. Now, he’s living the very disparity he’s fought to fix. Diagnosed with stage IV nonsmoker lung cancer—a disease disproportionately affecting Asians—Lin is using his personal journey to spotlight the lack of research and screening guidelines for his community.“Yeah, it is ironic,” Lin said after teaching his Stanford class, “From Diagnosis to Dialogue,” which explores cancer care and research. His diagnosis came after a persistent cough led to scans revealing cancer in his bones, liver, and brain. Though he’s responding to treatment, Lin knows his…
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
Empowering families in Miami with essential cooking skills, kitchen safety knowledge, nutrition education, and access to affordable, healthy foods
Establishing 3 Nutrition Hubs to address food and nutrition security challenges in underserved communities in Hawaii, Texas, and Utah
A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that biased language used during patient handoffs can significantly impact the quality of care for Black patients, potentially exacerbating health disparities. Researchers from New York University Grossman School of Medicine and The University of Chicago found that when medical residents and students received handoffs containing biased language, they recalled clinical information less accurately and displayed less empathy towards patients. The study, which involved 169 participants from two academic medical centers, simulated verbal handoffs based on real scenarios involving Black patients. When exposed to handoffs with blame-based bias, participants showed a marked…
In Gary, Indiana, a city with a predominantly Black population, industrial pollution continues to pose significant health risks, highlighting the ongoing environmental injustice faced by minority communities. The city’s history of heavy industry, particularly steel manufacturing, has left a legacy of contamination that disproportionately affects its residents.Recent air quality data reveals alarming levels of pollutants in Gary. The city’s air contains particulate matter at concentrations 20 times higher than less industrialized areas, putting residents at increased risk for respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This pollution burden is particularly heavy for the 84% of Gary’s population who identify as Black.The…
Addressing systemic health disparities through innovative, scalable solutions with $6.75 million grant from the Humana Foundation
A recent study has unveiled alarming disparities in health insurance coverage and claim denials, disproportionately affecting Black Americans and other minority communities. The findings reveal a complex web of systemic issues that continue to perpetuate health inequities across the United States.Black Americans face significant hurdles in obtaining comprehensive health insurance. In 2022, only 56% of Black individuals had private health insurance, compared to 75% of whites. This disparity is partly attributed to the overrepresentation of Black workers in jobs that don’t offer robust coverage options.Even when insured, Black patients encounter higher rates of claim denials. A study of 1.5 million…
A recent study has revealed a concerning connection between exposure to wildfire smoke and an increased risk of dementia, particularly among certain minority groups and those living in economically disadvantaged areas. Researchers from the University of Washington School of Public Health, led by Dr. Joan Casey, analyzed data from over 1.2 million Kaiser Permanente Southern California members aged 60 or older to investigate the impact of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfires on dementia incidence.The study, which spanned from 2008 to 2019, found that for every 1 μg/m3 increase in average wildfire PM2.5 over a three-year period, the odds of…