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Meet our Researchers
Get to know UC Merced's muliti-disciplinary researchers addressing health disparities
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Opportunities for Students
Find out more about health disparities research opportunities for students
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Professor Jennifer Hahn Holbrook examines differing breastfeeding rates among American women 

Health Disparities Research at UC Merced

As defined by the CDC, health disparities are preventable differences in the burdens of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities. UC Merced researchers across disciplines are addressing health disparities and developing innovative solutions.

There are also opportunties for both undergraduate and graduate students to receive further training in this area of research. 

About Our Region

How are health disparities relevant in the San Joaquin Valley? 

While the 11 counties that comprise the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) and surrounding foothill communities make up the fastest growing region in the state where agriculture, oil and land development generate significant wealth, they also exhibit its highest levels of income disparities and rank poorly on an index of health factors reflecting health/risk behaviors, access to care and physical environment.  

This region reports prevalence rates higher than the national average for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, overweight/obesity, current smoking and psychological distress.  

Across the SJV, differences in disease prevalence and limited or better health disparities in some conditions demonstrate the need to examine both the risks and resilience of individuals, families and communities.  

Our region's racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity provides an opportunity to examine rural health and health disparities as well as disparities within rural communities. 

 

Featured News

female with brown hair and white shirt
October 24, 2024

Second-year public health Ph.D. student Sarina Rodriguez was named as a Health Policy Research Scholar by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The HPRS program supports doctoral students from...

October 24, 2024
A study published Thursday, led by University of Colorado, UC Merced and UCLA scientists, finds a nearly fourfold increase in wildfire growth rates in California over the past two decades.
October 24, 2024
UC Merced has been recognized for advancing Latino students' success by earning the Seal of Excelencia.
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