Advancing Health Justice: Meharry Medical College’s Multi-Layered Approach to Health Equity Research
For nearly 150 years, Meharry Medical College, the nation’s largest historically Black medical school, has pioneered research addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities. The institution’s commitment to health equity is demonstrated through its network of specialized research centers and institutes, each targeting different aspects of healthcare inequality.
At the forefront of this mission is the new Global Health Equity Institute, led by health policy expert Daniel E. Dawes, which will become the foundation for the first School of Global Public Health at an HBCU. Complementing this initiative is the Maternal Health Equity Research Center, addressing the stark reality that Black women in Tennessee are twice as likely to die during childbirth, and the Center for the Study of Social Determinants of Health, which focuses on translating research into actionable programs for communities.
The RCMI Program in Health Disparities Research strengthens this framework by supporting research from micro to macro environments, with three core components focusing on research capacity, investigator development, and community engagement. These programs collectively support crucial research in HIV-1, perinatal outcomes, and trauma-informed care. Meharry faculty believes what sets Meharry’s research apart is its commitment to “building diverse datasets that enable more personalized treatment approaches based on factors including race, class, and various health indicators”.
Furthering its commitment to health equity research, Meharry’s MS in Health Equity program provides students with comprehensive training in understanding and addressing health disparities through policy analysis and intervention design. The program uniquely incorporates Dawes’ Political Determinants of Health framework, preparing students to conduct independent research that examines health challenges across different countries. Through faculty-guided thesis projects and applied experiential learning, students develop innovative solutions to address health inequities at their most upstream levels.
This work is crucial as healthcare has historically suffered from algorithmic and treatment biases. By developing research and treatments that reflect human diversity, Meharry is ensuring healthcare innovations serve all communities equitably, creating a more just and effective healthcare system for everyone.
