Health Equity

Michigan Medicine's Commitment to Inclusive Healthcare Research and Access

Dedicated to providing equitable care to all patients and improving the lives of people who have been marginalized.

A patient’s race, age, gender, disability-status, location, and many other factors can impact the way they are treated when seeking care, what therapies are available to them, and their health-related quality of life and life expectancy.

Michigan Medicine researchers are dedicated to bringing about health equity, transforming how the next generation of scientists approach health related research, and ensuring that all people have access to the best healthcare and the ability to live long, healthy lives.

Featured News & Stories

couple in distance with bikes by water and green

Health Lab

Michigan’s a great place to grow older, say those doing it

Michigan residents over 50 mostly feel that it’s a good or great state to grow old in, but some measures were rated lower by those who are Black, disabled, Northern, or had low incomes or major physical or mental health concerns.

Doctor with white hair and white coat holding a phone to his ear.

Health Lab

People without health insurance are less likely to obtain lifesaving hospital transfers

Does insurance play a role in which critically ill patients live or die? The unfortunate answer may be yes, due in part to a difference in the rate of inter-hospital transfer, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

vines all over growing out of purple woman drawing pink background calendar up and pad on right. calendar says the normal menstrual cycle typically lasts for less than 7 days and occurs every 21 to 35 days. the average woman loses about 2-3 tablespoons of blood during her period. pad says the typical cost the menstrual hygiene products is $7 to $10 per month, which adds up to between $3,360 and $4,800 over the course of a life time

Health Lab

Addressing disparities in abnormal menstrual bleeding and anemia

A large grant for Michigan Medicine will launch important research to improve the screening and treatment for a gynecologic disorder that disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic populations

Recent Podcast Episodes in Health Equity

Health Lab Podcast

Private Equity Investment into IVF

In a recent paper published in JAMA, researchers find that over 50% of IVF cycles in the United States are now done at fertility clinics affiliated with private equity firms.

Health Lab Podcast

Addressing health care inequality

An expert on racial and ethnic differences in health care and health outcomes offers recommendations as part of a national committee.

Michigan Medicine Presents

Michigan Medicine Presents: How to Get into Medical School

Join Dr. Deb Berman, assistant dean for admissions, and Carol Teener, director of admissions, along with two current medical students from the University of Michigan Medical School for answers to your questions about getting into medical school and more. The conversation ranges from GPAs and personal statements to the culture and experiences that make Michigan unique.

Health Equity Researchers

Meet the Experts

Health equity researchers at Michigan Medicine are dedicated to addressing disparities and promoting fairness in healthcare access and outcomes.

See All Researchers

Latest Publications

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“They had the lunch lady coming up to assist”: The experiences of menarche and menstrual management for adolescents with physical disabilities.

Streur, CS, Kreschmer, JM, Ernst, SD, Quint, EH, Rosen, MW, Wittmann, D, Kalpakjian, CZ, Disabil Health J, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101510

PMID: 37544804

Association of prolonged symptom duration with poor outcomes in lumbar spine surgery: a Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative study.

Hamilton, T, Bartlett, S, Deshpande, N, Hadi, M, Reese, JC, Mansour, TR, Telemi, E, Springer, K, Schultz, L, Nerenz, DR, Abdulhak, M, Soo, T, Schwalb, J, Khalil, JG, Aleem, I, Easton, R, Perez-Cruet, M, Park, P, Chang, V, J Neurosurg Spine, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.3171/2023.5.SPINE23249

PMID: 37347591

High Deductibles are Associated With Severe Disease, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Payments for Emergency Surgical Conditions

Scott, JW, Neiman, PU, Scott, KW, Ibrahim, AM, Fan, Z, Fendrick, AM, Dimick, JB, Ann Surg, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005819

PMID: 36762565

Association of Health Professional Shortage Area Hospital Designation With Surgical Outcomes and Expenditures Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Mullens, CL, Lussiez, A, Scott, JW, Kunnath, N, Dimick, JB, Ibrahim, AM, Ann Surg, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005762

PMID: 36538612

The Pursuing Excellence Collaborative: Engaging First-Year Residents and Fellows in Patient Safety Event Investigations

Paull, DE, Newton, RC, Tess, AV, Bagian, JP, Kelz, RR, Weiss, KB, J Patient Saf, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1097/PTS.0000000000001150

PMID: 37493368

Patient-Centered Outcomes After a Medication Adherence Intervention: a Pilot Study

Cho, J, Song, M, Niziol, LM, Heisler, M, Resnicow, K, Musch, DC, Lee, P, Darnley-Fisch, D, Newman-Casey, PA, J Glaucoma, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1097/IJG.0000000000002228

PMID: 37054438

The Demands of Surgery Residency: More Than Just Duty Hours?

Gates, RS, Kemp, MT, Evans, J, Liesman, D, Pumiglia, L, Matusko, N, George, BC, Sandhu, G, J Surg Res, 2023 Oct; DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2023.04.026

PMID: 37327639

Assessment of racial and ethnic inequities in copay card utilization and enrollment in copay adjustment programs

Ingham, M, Sadik, K, Zhao, X, Song, J, Fendrick, AM, J Manag Care Spec Pharm, 2023 Sep; DOI:10.18553/jmcp.2023.23021

PMID: 37548953