Culture, Engagement, and Impact in PopHealth

The Education Team believes that respect and inclusion critical components to its instructional mission. Our commitment to inclusion lives in our student recruitment and admissions efforts, contributions to departmental culture, and outreach and community-building initiatives.

To attract the most diverse group of students from all backgrounds and perspectives  we actively engage with candidates at universities and colleges across the country..

We have created a comprehensive candidate assessment process, with optional GRE submission. Candidates are admitted based on merit and we do not consider race, sex, ethnicity, or other protected status as part of the admissions process.

We have an inclusive departmental culture that spans research and other program offerings. Our research is often centered on improving access and quality of care for all populations. Our BRIDGE (Building Research Inclusion and Diversity in Graduate Education) program mentors and supports a workforce made up of talented individuals from all backgrounds who are equipped to improve population health.

To foster community building, we connect our international students with groups across campus that provide support services and in-house resources developed specifically for their needs.

In summary, the Education Team helps strengthen the department’s educational efforts by building and supporting instructional programs that value different life histories, experiences, and perspectives of all individuals.

Our commitment to inclusive excellence strengthens our department’s research in several ways. First, fostering an inclusive environment enriches our perspectives and methodologies. Second, understanding systemic challenges help reduce health variations. Third, inclusive excellence enhances our interactions with research participants, collaboration within teams, and resource allocation.

We are intentional to include all populations, ensuring appropriateness of study materials, and training staff in respectful engagement. Our teams investigate use innovative approaches to capture multiple voices and develop methods to elicit health experiences from populations that historically have not had their needs met. We also collaborate with local communities to address their health needs. Examples of research areas incorporate inclusive excellence include:

Environment and Health

Environmental impacts disproportionately affects communities with limited access to resources,. We study environmental health impacts to develop interventions that mitigate adverse effects on vulnerable populations. Our research includes examining how extreme weather events and pollution impact health outcomes in all communities.

Artificial Intelligence

We leverage AI to analyze health disparities, predict outcomes, and tailor interventions to the needs of groups. AI tools improve health information accessibility, especially for those with lower literacy and limited healthcare access. By using AI, we can identify patterns and develop targeted strategies to address the unique needs of different demographic groups.

Bellwether Collaborative

The Bellwether Collaborative for Health Justice, part of our department, focuses on how the criminal legal system impacts health. This initiative highlights our commitment to addressing the structural determinants of health through research. The Collaborative investigates how various aspects of incarceration impact people, families, and whole communities. Current projects include the Third City Project, which aggregates health and policy data from carceral systems and several other federally and foundation funded projects examining mortality, substance use, and HIV.

I am proud to say that we believe having respect for and including people from all backgrounds—are essential to our department’s success. Our recruiting and hiring practices ensure that all candidates are evaluated based on merit regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. An inclusive perspective also helps us foster a healthy work climate, and influences how we approach challenges, develop solutions, and identify opportunities.