Study finds racial disparities in low-value care, even within the same health systems
Are Black patients at higher or lower risk of overuse? A new study reveals how patterns of low-value differ by race in the Medicare population. More
Leveraging AI to reduce health disparities: A closer look at the possibilities
As health equity has become a central focus for hospitals and other healthcare institutions, how could AI help – or hinder – these efforts? More
Why affirmative action matters in medicine
How does the Supreme Court's decision to prohibit affirmative action policies in university admissions affect healthcare? More
Disparities in excess deaths: How systemic racism decreases life expectancy
1.63 million excess deaths over two decades - that’s the estimated toll of the racial inequities embedded in modern America, according to a new study in JAMA. How does this play out on the city level, and what can we do about it? More
Black Blood and a Black Crayon: The fight for desegregating blood donations
Dr. Charles Drew revolutionized blood donations...yet racist policies prevented him from participating in the very programs he had created. More
Nephrology reckons with racism
A faulty algorithm has led to racial inequities in kidney care for years. Now, the movement to eliminate it has gained traction. Could this be a step towards a more equitable system? More
How do we desegregate the hospital system?
A new series of articles on healthcare segregation provides a call to action and a way forward for all actors in the healthcare system looking to improve racial and economic equity More
Debunking pharma’s spin on racial equity
What could be a fruitful conversation on racial equity is being co-opted by pharmaceutical companies to sell unproven drugs. More
Water crisis turned mental health crisis: new research on mental health in Flint, MI
New research is out on the long-term mental health toll of the Flint water crisis on its residents. What can we learn, and how can we do better? More
Indigenous American and Alaska Natives lost 6 years life expectancy during pandemic
Indigenous American and Alaska Native life expectancy dropped by six and a half years during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Other Americans faced around a two year decrease in life expectancy. Why was this section of the population hit so hard, and how can we take steps to fortify their health moving forward? More
One million missing: America’s crisis of early death
Despite the fact that the US is the richest country in the world, it's also one of the least healthy. How many deaths could have been avoided if the US had a similar mortality rate as other wealthy countries? More
Implications for racial inequities in maternal health if Roe v Wade is lost
A Supreme Court draft decision was leaked recently that indicates that Roe v. Wade is to be overturned sometime this month. It is well established that racial inequities plague maternal health, killing Black women at three times the rate of white women. How is the impending reversal of Roe v. Wade going to impact maternal health across the nation? More
Black mothers matter. How can we better protect their lives?
The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate amongst high-income nations - and it’s getting worse. More
When it comes to life expectancy, we don’t get what we pay for
The life expectancy of the average American dropped by 2 years in 2020, but by only a few months in peer countries. This discrepancy gets worse when you adjust for sex, race, and ethnicity. This is despite the fact that the US spends the most money on healthcare in the world. How do we get such poor health outcomes with such high spending? More
The lasting impact of hospital segregation
What drives hospital segregation and how can we combat this trend? More
Racism impacts health – how do we account for it?
Why is it equitable to take race into account in healthcare in some cases but not others? The answer lies in the distinction between race and racism. More
Uncovering health disparities by race, ethnicity, and education
Recent research on racial and socioeconomic health disparities shows how far we still have to go to have better health for all. More
Overdiagnosis of schizophrenia in nursing homes is rampant, especially for Black residents.
Overuse of antipsychotic medications is a long-standing problem among nursing home residents with dementia. However, a 2012 policy to address the problem may have unintentionally created a new problem of overdiagnosis. More
Digital redlining: How telehealth can exacerbate inequalities
The rapid switch to telehealth has many potential advantages for expanding access of care. However, if not done with an intentional eye toward equity, telehealth can leave many behind. More
Overcoming Covid-19 disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
For Indigenous People's Day, we're sharing how American Indian and Alaska Native communities' experiences with Covid-19 highlight both the struggles and the accomplishments toward reducing health disparities. More