Skip to content
Meet our Researchers
Get to know UC Merced's muliti-disciplinary researchers addressing health disparities
students in classroom
Opportunities for Students
Find out more about health disparities research opportunities for students
Select publications
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

A child and a health worker are shown giving a high five.
November 27, 2024

A new program aimed at training people to be community health workers has already gotten an important boost: a grant to cover scholarships for some attendees. The Community Health Worker Specialized...

November 26, 2024
At least half of the state’s 162,000 farmworkers are undocumented, according to estimates from the federal Department of Labor and research conducted by UC Merced. Without sufficient workers, food...
November 21, 2024

Medical education at UC Merced is expanding at a rapid pace as part of the campus’ long-term goal to address the shortage of physicians and health care professionals in the Central Valley. This fall...

Subscribe to Health Disparities RSS