Health Equity

June 25, 2024

Gene variant may underlie diabetes disparities: study

The study was the largest ancestry-stratified, genetic estimation of the heritability of diabetic retinopathy conducted to date and included an unprecedented number of individuals of non-Hispanic African ancestry — more than 46,000.

By Bill Snyder
City University of New York’s Deidre Anglin, PhD, was the featured speaker at the 6th Annual Harold Jordan Lecture. (photo by Susan Urmy)
June 17, 2024

Annual Harold Jordan Lecture addresses racism and psychosis

The keynote speaker’s topic was “Infusing DEI in our Research Programs: An Example Studying the Social Patterning of Psychosis.”

By Danny Bonvissuto
Registered respiratory therapist Natasha Vanderbilt, RRT, encourages 10-year-old Kate to exhale a complete breath during a lung function test in the Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine clinic. (photo by Susan Urmy)
June 14, 2024

Removing race improves accuracy of lung function testing in children

The study suggests the adjustment for race in spirometry resulted in an underreporting — and thus possibly undertreatment — of chronic lung diseases, including asthma and cystic fibrosis, in Black children.

By Bill Snyder
(iStock)
May 14, 2024

Breast cancer risk variants identified for women of African ancestry

A study led by researchers from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center sheds light on some of the genetic variants that make breast cancer more deadly for women of African ancestry and significantly reduces the disparity in knowledge for assessing their genomic risk factors.

By Tom Wilemon
May 7, 2024

VUMC honored for health care equality efforts 

VUMC is the only organization in Tennessee to repeatedly be recognized for its commitment to adopting adult LGBTQ-inclusive patient, visitation and employment policies. 

By Doug Campbell
(iStock image)
May 1, 2024

Poverty tops smoking as a major death risk: study

A Vanderbilt study found that Black and white people who earned less than $15,000 a year died, on average, more than 10 years earlier than those whose annual income exceeded $50,000.

By Bill Snyder
April 26, 2024

Homelessness a major issue for many patients in the emergency department

Unstable housing and homelessness can exacerbate adverse health outcomes, leading to increased risk of chronic disease, injury, and disability. Yet, emergency departments currently do not have a universal method to identify those at risk of, or currently experiencing, homelessness.
By Craig Boerner
April 26, 2024

Discovery lecturer examines race and racism in health care

At her recent Discovery Lecture, Vanessa Northington Gamble, MD, PhD, described the deeply flawed yet lingering concept in American medicine that ascribes racial disparities in health status to inherent biological differences, rather than to environmental and sociological factors.
By Bill Snyder
April 15, 2024

Ray Blind named associate director for diversity, equity and inclusion at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Ray Blind, PhD, Ingram Assistant Professor of Cancer Research, has been named associate director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
By Tom Wilemon
April 9, 2024

Lifting up voices to celebrate healthy Black births 

Celebration of Black Motherhood on April 20 elevates positive stories and experiences around Black births
By Danny Bonvissuto
April 9, 2024

A history of race and health care leads April 18 Discovery Lecture

Vanessa Northington Gamble, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized advocate for equity and justice in American medicine and public health, will deliver the next Discovery Lecture at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in 208 Light Hall.
By Bill Snyder
January 19, 2024

Health equity champion Arie Nettles retires

Arie Nettles, PhD, professor of Clinical Pediatrics, spent her career ensuring the well-being of pediatric and adolescent patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and cleft craniofacial disorders. She hopes to continue to effect change.
By Jessica Pasley
December 29, 2023

VUMC to launch Program for Health Equity Research

VUMC's new Program for Health Equity Research aims to become the nation’s leader in health equity research that’s inclusive, supportive and diverse by creating a rigorous environment for application-driven research with rapid response to policies and practices.
By Kathy Whitney
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