Dr. Utibe Essien has emerged as a transformative voice in the fight against racial health disparities through groundbreaking research and tireless advocacy. An assistant professor of medicine at UCLA and health disparities researcher at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Essien coined the term “pharmacoequity” in 2021 to describe a healthcare system where all patients access the highest-quality, evidence-based medications regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
Essien’s research has revealed alarming inequities in cardiovascular care. His studies of over 110,000 veterans with atrial fibrillation found that Black patients were up to 26 percent less likely to receive the newest, most effective blood thinners for stroke prevention compared to white patients—even within the VA system where medications cost just five to eleven dollars. This disparity persisted despite equal insurance coverage, suggesting that unconscious bias and systemic barriers, not just cost, drive inequitable prescribing patterns.
Beyond research, Essien co-founded the influential “Antiracism in Medicine” podcast, providing medical professionals with tools and language to address racism in clinical settings. The series has been incorporated into medical curricula nationwide, filling a critical gap in antiracist education. He also serves as UCLA’s Associate Vice Chair of Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence, working to diversify the medical workforce.
His groundbreaking work has earned national recognition, including the 2021 AAMC Herbert W. Nickens Award and designation as a 2024 National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leader. Through research, education, and advocacy, Essien continues pushing medicine toward justice and equity.
Learn More:
– Commonwealth Fund podcast interview: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/podcast/2022/may/prescription-reducing-bias-medical-care
– Stanford Health Policy lecture article (with video link to inaugural Health Equity Panel): https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/health-equity-lecture-pursing-equity-pharmacology-black-patients
– Antiracism in Medicine podcast: https://clinicalproblemsolving.com/antiracism-in-medicine/
