The mission of the Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR) is to create health equities from health disparities through leadership, advocacy, education, research, capacity building, collaboration, community engagement, evaluation, communication, cultural competence, and partnership. CHDR is very interested in engaging community partners in order to address issues related to health disparities in Nevada and throughout the United States.
Researchers
Graduate Research Assistants
- Zahra Mojtahedi, MD
- Emylia Terry, MA
- Mae Ling Catayong, BA
Research Activities
- “COVID-19 Health Disparity Assessment and Healthcare Equity Modeling”, Southern Nevada Health District, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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The project aims to use various quantitative modeling approaches to examine the impact of the COVID-19 on racial/ethnic disparities in clinical outcome and cost of care, from which strategies will be provided to improve responses to future public health emergencies in communities. Dr. Jay Shen, the CHDR director, leads this project.
- Ethnic-specific opioid risk prediction in primary care using deep learning, Minority Research Grant Program – Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
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The project uses novel computational and clinical strategies, including a deep learning-based risk score model and clinical assessment, to identify ethnic-specific opioid overdose risk factors. Dr. Mingon Kang leads this project.
Publications and Presentations
Partners & Community Engagement
- CHDR has worked with the major partner, Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition (NMHEC), in various community activities.
- CHDR, School of Public Health, and NMHEC researchers are working on the COVID-19 disparities modeling project.
- CHDR and its partner, the Nevada Interprofessional Healthy Aging Network (NIHAN), held a policy forum: “Education and Technology: Closing the Health Disparities Gap for Nevada’s Older Adults” in the spring of 2023.
- CHDR and Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) co-hosted the 2024 Community Forum: COVID-19 Impact on Disparities, supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).