Hopkins GIM Research
Health Disparities
Health disparities are differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation. Compelling evidence indicates that race and ethnicity correlate with persistent, and often increasing, health disparities among U.S. populations in all these categories, and demands national attention. Groups currently experiencing poorer health status are expected to grow as a proportion of the total U.S. population; therefore, the future health of America as a whole will be influenced substantially by our success in improving the health of these groups. A national focus on disparities in health status is particularly important as major changes unfold in the way in which health care is delivered and financed.
Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health will require enhanced efforts at preventing disease, promoting health and delivering appropriate care. This will necessitate improved collection and use of standardized data to correctly identify all high risk populations and monitor the effectiveness of health interventions targeting these groups. Eliminating health disparities will also require new knowledge about the determinants of disease, causes of health disparities, and effective interventions for prevention and treatment. It will require improving access to the benefits of society, including quality preventive and treatment services, as well as innovative ways of working in partnership with health care systems, state and local governments, tribal governments, academia, national and community-based organizations, and communities. Hopkins GIM faculty are working on 4 of the 6 health disparities focus areas identified by the Department of Health and Human Services--Cancer screening and management; Cardiovascular Disease; Diabetes; and HIV/AIDS--with particular attention to the health of African Americans. Information about the faculty working in this research area and their projects is provided below.
Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and International Health; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Clinical investigation in cardiovascular disease; hypertension
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Diane M. Becker, MPH, ScD
Professor of Medicine & Health Policy and Management, Director, Center for Family Studies in Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Health Promotion
Research Interests: Genetic epidemiology; health disparities; primary prevention; behavioral sciences; research design
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Frederick L. Brancati, MD, MHS
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Director, Division of GIM; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clincal Research
Research Interests: Type 2 diabetes; obesitiy
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED), click here.
Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior and Society; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clincal Research
Research Interests: Health disparities in depression care; spirituality; physician-patient relationship and communication
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Joseph Finkelstein, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director, Chronic Disease Informatics Program, JHU
Research Interests: Use of health informatics to reduce disparities in health care
Click to see publications list
Tiffany Gary, PhD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Depression and type 2 diabetes
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Neil Powe, MD, MPH, MBA
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology; Director, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Outcomes research in CKD and ESRD
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
J. Hunter Young, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Genetic epidemiology; novel risk factors for CVD, hypertension, and insulin resistance
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
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