Category: News

by Abby Arcuri Many people’s journeys bring them to topics they become interested in studying. Millicent N. Robinson, a former graduate student who worked with CHER, shared her journey, and how it led her to become passionate in her work. … Read more

by Abby Arcuri Everyone on CHER’s team brings unique talents. One new employee, Courtney McMillian, works in health communication and has another unique communication skill: poetry! McMillian is working on learning about healthcare barriers in communities. In her free time, … Read more

by Abby Arcuri The accomplishments of CHER employees, before and after they work with us, can help others in similar roles. A previous post-doc, Gabby Harris, shared her accomplishments since leaving CHER, and revisited what came before. https://www.med.unc.edu/cher/wp-content/uploads/sites/1048/2024/04/Gabby-Harris-Alumni-Spotlight-1.mp4 What was … Read more

CHER was proud to have a table (and a presenter) at the 45th Minority Health Conference. Abby Arcuri, our student writer, was on the ground – check out who she met and what they had to say about this year’s … Read more

by Abby Arcuri Every part of someone’s career plays a part in their future. CHER is one step in many people’s future. We’re glad to catch up with one CHER alum: former graduate student Ben Kaplan. Kaplan came to CHER … Read more

by Abby Arcuri A core part of CHER is sharing our research. Recently, Blen Biru, a research project manager, got to do so. Learn about Biru’s experience at The MaryAnn Black Distinguished Health Equity Symposium, and the research she shared … Read more

by Abby Arcuri Learning about the paths that brought CHER members to the center is a great way to get to know each other. Find out more about the path of a new member, Caroline Taheri. Taheri’s journey involves one … Read more

by Abby Arcuri New members of CHER come in with various backgrounds. One new member is Jonathan Smith, an MPH student at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Smith is open to new experiences. He hopes to learn ways … Read more

by Abby Arcuri Getting to know fellow CHER members is important. Caroline Hays, a new employee, brings her skills and values to the team. Hays previously worked as a nurse, but other interests she had are what brought her to … Read more

by Abby Arcuri CHER members attend APHA 2023, the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Expo, to present their research and view the work of other attendees. Some CHER members told us about their experiences. Our Research Several CHER … Read more

by Abby Arcuri This November, CHER team members attended the 2023 American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo. One attendee was Taylor Baldwin, an Evaluation Research Assistant at CHER. This marked her first time at a conference. She … Read more

by Abby Arcuri This November, CHER members came together at two community service events. Some members shared their experiences at these events and told us how they showed up for Habitat for Humanity of Durham and Farmer Foodshare. Thirteen CHER … Read more

by Abby Arcuri At CHER, we always enjoy welcoming a new team member and learning about their experiences. One of the newest members is Bianka Reese. As Bianka performs evaluations on CHER’s programs, she is also motivated by her sister … Read more

by Abby Arcuri During University Research Week, CHER hosted two events spotlighting health equity research. With many participants joining in person and virtually, we were able to spread information regarding our missions and ongoing projects. Staff Voices To kick off … Read more

by Abby Arcuri, photos courtesy of Abacus team members “Getting to connect with others in person (both in my team and from other organizations!) was my favorite part and left me feeling re-energized to continue my work” is how Rossana … Read more

Just in time for Employee Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating our colleagues who recently hit five years of service with UNC or the UNC System!   https://www.med.unc.edu/cher/wp-content/uploads/sites/1048/2023/10/CHER-Service-Spotlight-Video.mp4 video produced by Abby Arcuri

  by Abby Arcuri Learning about the people behind our research is important to us at CHER. Behind some of our projects is Samantha Hoelzer. From being a researcher in translational science projects to being a frequent book reader, she … Read more

by Abby Arcuri In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) formed the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities. CEAL teams work closely with the communities hit hardest by COVID-19. One such team is based … Read more

by Abby Arcuri This fall, we’re welcoming an undergraduate student to our communications team, and we’re excited to have her help share the story of CHER. As an undergrad with goals of studying health equity, Abby Arcuri is excited to … Read more

CHER benefits from colleagues who’ve traveled different paths. And sometimes, the path to CHER includes learning all about smoothing the paths of others. Our research director knows all about way-finding: she’s found her way through park trails, urban environments and … Read more

The 2023 Health Equity Research Intensive (HERI) is coming soon! HERI helps participants build the skills they need to do research with an equity lens. The program offers a variety of sessions over multiple days. Some sessions are foundational, helping … Read more

Students contribute unique perspectives to projects and teams. At CHER, it’s a joy to hire and mentor them.  One of our newest team members is studying health behavior at Gillings. And working with us. And working with Lineberger. That’s a … Read more

by Rachel Berthiaume The Paul A. Godley Health Equity Research Symposium, an annual CHER event since 2020, was reimagined in 2023 to provide more opportunities to highlight health equity research and promote new collaborations. Shifting from a single day with a … Read more

At CHER, we believe research shared is research improved. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new colleague in a new role. Get to know Rachel Berthiaume, MPH, who slowed down for a few minutes to share with us. Tell … Read more

Michelle Song, Associate Director of Data Science & Analytics for Abacus Evaluation with CHER, is an excellent professional. That’s what the UNC Employee Forum says and we couldn’t agree more.  Song was recently announced as a 2023 recipient of a … Read more

New research from CHER is shining light for researchers at every level. New research on electronic Community Resource Referral Systems (CRRSs) is a step forward for experienced researchers and recently graduated student assistants. A systematic review explores what improves or … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Grant applications might give pause to some academics, but for Blen (rhymes with rain) Biru they’re just another day’s work. From helping with applications to mastering languages, there’s little Blen can’t tackle. We reached out to her … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Josephine McKelvy, Ph.D., has many talents, not the least of which is her role as an Evaluation Research Scientist with Abacus. Her skills range from scrap-booking to making sure programs are sending the message and doing the … Read more

by Melissa Marcus As an advanced research assistant, Airianne Posey supports a wide variety of projects in the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). Her skills range across projects and programs, and she even knows how to carry a tune. … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Community. When we hear that word, we might imagine our own homes, neighborhoods, friends and family. For Black teenagers in rural areas, how they see community can differ from our expectations. A recent paper published in the … Read more

by Melissa Marcus When you think of public health workers, do you picture teens? It might seem odd. But  work experience plays a large role in youth development. And CHER researchers and partners found new benefits when they worked with … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Stephanie Lola engages with healthcare on global and local scales through her graduate studies at the Gillings School of Public Health and her work at Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). Get to know Stephanie and her … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Tonia Poteat, CHER Core Faculty and head of the RISE lab, was recently awarded the Pandora Singleton Ally Award. The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) asked for Poteat’s reflections on the award and learned more about … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Ciera Thomas is a recent addition to the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). Her interest in health equity on both global and local scales drove her to seek out her degree at UNC, and it brought … Read more

  by Melissa Marcus The UNC Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) hosted its third Health Equity Research Intensive (HERI) on August 29 and 30. A new, third day, was scheduled for August 31. That day’s event had to be … Read more

by Melissa Marcus Even though she’s working remotely, Andrea Mendoza doesn’t let that stop her from engaging communities in and out of the UNC Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). In her role as Community Engagement Specialist, she partners with … Read more

by Melissa Marcus When Juan Yanguela Eguizabal worked with the UNC Center for Health Equity Research as a Graduate Research Assistant, it was one stop in a varied, ongoing journey. Juan was born and raised in Spain. Now in Chapel … Read more

What can a mini grant and a small group do to support diversity, equity and inclusion? A lot, when the group of colleagues are headed to the “largest multiracial, intergenerational conference for racial justice advocates.” In mid-July, the UNC School … Read more

In a recent interview, Tonia Poteat spoke with Bakita Kasadha of TheBodyPro about the possible impacts of the June 24, 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision. Poteat shared her initial reaction to the ruling and shared … Read more

Giselle Corbie, M.D., M.Sc., CHER director, and Claudia Fernandez, DrPH, M.S., R.D., LDN, co-direct the Clinical Scholars program. Clinical Scholars is a national leadership program for experienced healthcare providers advancing health equity. In a new article in the Journal of … Read more

Tonia Poteat, Ph.D., MPH, PA-C, CHER Core Faculty, was quoted in the American Heart Association news article “Why the world of LGBTQ health doesn’t fit under a single label.” The article discusses the differences – and similarities – in health … Read more

Jada Brooks, Ph.D., MPSH, R.N., FAAN, CHER Associate, was in the recent list of newly named distinguished professors at UNC. Brooks is the Carol Morde Ross Distinguished Term Scholar, effective from November 2021. An associate professor in the School of … Read more

In a new policy paper from the RADx-UP CDCC Community Engagement Core team, researchers from the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, UNC Center for Health Equity Research, and Duke Clinical Research Institutes propose a policy framework for community-based COVID-19 testing to … Read more

Gaurav Dave, MD, DrPH, MPH, CHER Associate Director was quoted in a new Medical News Today article: Only 43% of clinical trials report race and ethnicity – What can be done? The article responds to a new study which demonstrates that … Read more

April 27, 2022 – Gabrielle Harris, PhD, RN, CHER Postdoctoral Fellow, has been accepted into two training programs this summer, UNC School of Medicine Rising Star Program and UNC Summer Instiute on College Teaching. Read descriptions below to learn more … Read more

Gabrielle Harris, PhD, RN, CHER Postdoctoral Fellow, received a diversity supplement award from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for a mentored independent study within the CommunityRx-Cardiovasular Disease (CRx-CVD) project. CRx-CVD is an intervention led by Drs. Giselle … Read more

Tonia Poteat, CHER Core Faculty, was quoted at length in a recent Medical News Today piece. Poteat shared insights on HIV prevalence and prevention among trans people. As a key point, Poteat emphasized that other needs often “‘take precedence over … Read more

November 29, 2021 – The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), Center for Health Equity Research at UNC-Chapel Hill (UNC-CHER), and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) today announced plans to deliver their You & Me COVID-Free testing project in Merced County, … Read more

Giselle Corbie, CHER Director, has co-authored an opinion piece for STAT with Warren Kibbe of the Duke Cancer Institute, calling for engaging communities “around how and why data affect them.” Kibbe and Corbie-Smith explain the origins and negative impacts of … Read more

Tonia Poteat, CHER Core Faculty, and colleagues have published research on transgender women’s intervention preferences for addressing HIV vulnerability determinants. According to Poteat et al., “[t]ransgender women in the United States (U.S.) experience a disproportionate burden of HIV infection and … Read more

Tonia Poteat, CHER Core Faculty, and colleagues have published research on delays in breast cancer care by race and sexual orientation. While “breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women…not all women face the same risk” … Read more

Savinna Mangalindan is a UNC Center for Health Equity Research Communications Assistant. Why is health equity or health equity research important to you? It has become very apparent to us the kinds of disparities that exist in healthcare which quite … Read more

Shikira Thomas, MSPH is a UNC Center for Health Equity Research Research Program Manager. Why is health equity or health equity research important to you? Favorable health is a basic right that should be afforded to all, but often is … Read more

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Core Faculty and co-founder of COVID Prison Project, is quoted in several national and local news articles published in March addressing COVID-19 in correctional institutions. Click the links below to read more from each of these … Read more

March 13, 2021 –  Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc, CHER Director, appeared on this past Saturday’s “On The Record” episode with Lena Tillett. Dr. Corbie-Smith appeared on the show along with Dr. Deepak Kumar from North Carolina Central University and Dr. Robin … Read more

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Core Faculty and co-founder of COVID Prison Project, is quoted in several national and local news articles published in February addressing COVID-19 in correctional institutions. Click the links below to read more from each of these … Read more

Zoe Denise Atkinson is a UNC Center for Health Equity Research Undergraduate Research Assistant. Why is health equity or health equity research important to you? Health equity research is critical because I have witnessed the impact of its success in … Read more

February 22, 2021 – Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER core faculty, and colleagues from the COVID Prison Project published their report, “The Case for Prioritizing COVID-19 Vaccines in Prisons and Jails” on The Appeal. The report provides evidence of the importance … Read more

January 14, 2021 – Ben Kaplan, MPH, UNC CHER student associate and fourth-year medical student at the UNC School of Medicine recently published an op-ed in the Annals of Family Medicine journal. In the article, Ben describes the role of … Read more

January 12, 2021 (UNC SOM News) – “A new five-year “R01” $3.25 million grant announced today is the second major grant awarded to the “food is medicine” research team, led by Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH.  In July 2020, the NIH … Read more

  January 5, 2021 – Senator Elizabeth Warren, CHER’s Core Faculty Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein and colleague, Dr. Kathryn Nowotny, Co-Founders of The COVID Prison Project, released an Op-Ed calling for more comprehensive data collection of incarcerated individuals and staff through … Read more

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Core Faculty and co-founder of COVID Prison Project. January 11, 2021 – Dr. Brinkley-Rubinstein is featured in the CNN article, “Jails and prisons were hit hard by Covid-19 and experts say they need to be prioritized for … Read more

  December 16, 2020 – Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD,  UNC CHER Core Faculty, and colleagues from Yale University and Columbia University have released a white paper on “Recommendations for Prioritization and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine in Prisons and Jails.” The paper … Read more

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, Ph.D., CHER Core faculty, has been awarded $250,000 in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to support “expanding data collection under the COVID Prison Project to help transform public health data systems and advance health equity.” Learn … Read more

December 8, 2020 – Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH, UNC CHER Faculty Associate, publishes a study titled “Losing Jobless Benefits Is Not Only Stressful, It Might Be Harmful to Health.” in JAMA. The study “focused on unemployment insurance, health-related social needs, … Read more

November 9, 2020 – Mark Shapiro, MD’s Explore the Space released a new podcast episode where Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc, CHER Director and Kenan Distinguished Professor of Social Medicine and Medicine was recently interviewed by Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH, … Read more

https://www.med.unc.edu/cher/wp-content/uploads/sites/1048/2020/10/msnbc-clip.mp4   “My concern with these kinds of comments and the misinformation that we have out there is the way it’s undermining the trust in science and our healthcare systems at the very time we need our people and our … Read more

Original publish date: October 19, 2020 “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a $12 million award for outreach and engagement efforts in ethnic and racial minority communities that are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The award … Read more

Original publish date: October 20, 2020 CHAPEL HILL, NC – In May 2020, UNC Health launched a mobile COVID-19 testing unit to underserved areas in central North Carolina. The mobile unit was successful for several reasons, the first of which … Read more

Source: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be releasing its report on Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations on October 21st, 2020 with a report release webinar. “This report … Read more

Original press release date: September 30, 2020 “The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), in partnership with the Center for Health Equity Research at UNC-Chapel Hill and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, has received an $80 million award to serve as the … Read more

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER core faculty and Assistant Professor of Social Medicine is leading the $5 million project, “COVID-19 Testing and Prevention in Correctional Settings” with researchers at Yale University and Brown University through a National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) … Read more

  By Richard Stradling August 13, 2020 05:30 AM CHAPEL HILL North Carolina has some of the most sophisticated health care in the world, but people’s access to that care still varies based on where they live, how much money … Read more

‘We must educate healthcare providers’ about Black women’s experience Medical News Today has interviewed Prof. Cheryl Giscombé, an expert on stress-related health disparities among African Americans, about a source of pressure that many African American women experience: the obligation to … Read more

Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH, CHER Associate, assistant professor in the division of general medicine, will lead a health disparities education webinar with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on July 9, from 1 pm to 2:30 pm EST. The webinar is … Read more

Application Deadline: July 15, 2020 Position Summary: The Research Scientist will work in the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER), in the Department of Social Medicine. Under the supervision of Research Scientist and in collaboration with the Director, Associate Director, … Read more

By Eileen Guo June 12, 2020 California’s Institution for Men. a state prison in Chino, Calif., has had one of the largest outbreaks in the state’s prison system. With 767 cases and counting among inmates, CIM has one of the largest … Read more

On June 12, 2020, expert guests Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith, UNC CHER Director, and Dr. Crystal Wiley Cené, UNC CHER Associate, discussed minority health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The media briefing had 12 media –related attendees online, including representatives from: Associated Press … Read more

‘COVID-19 outbreaks in ICE detention centers raise concerns over insufficient testing’ (MSN) May 18, 2020, Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, CHER Faculty, was mentioned in the article ‘COVID-19 outbreaks in ICE detention centers raise concerns over insufficient testing.’ In the last two … Read more

UNC CHER Core Faculty, Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, published an article addresses COVID-19 and health disparities among the black community. “Black communities in the United States are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and the underlying conditions that … Read more

  Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, UNC CHER Faculty, is a part of The COVID Prison Project, which tracks data and policy across the country to monitor COVID-19 in correctional facilities. Justice-involved individuals in congregate living facilities are at a high risk … Read more

ABC 11 News segment on ‘COVID-19 Pandemic: The Racial Divide’ Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith contributed to the ABC 11 News segment on ‘COVID-19 Pandemic: The Racial Divide’ and how preexisting conditions, access to healthcare affect minority communities and whether minority bias … Read more

CORONAVIRUS ‘The Driving Force Is Institutionalized Racism’: Black North Carolinians Are Getting Hit Hard By COVID-19 African-Americans make up less than a quarter of the state’s population, but nearly 40 percent of its confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. By Paul … Read more

Crystal Wiley Cené, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and UNC CHER Associate What does health equity mean to you? To me, health equity simply means giving individuals what they need to lead healthy and full lives. Health equity implies that we … Read more

NC Policy Watch features Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Faculty, Op/Ed on “We must act now to prevent an epidemic in North Carolina’s prisons and jails.” We must act now to prevent an epidemic in North Carolina’s prisons and jails Learn … Read more

NC Policy Watch features Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Faculty, Op/Ed on “We must act now to prevent an epidemic in North Carolina’s prisons and jails.” We must act now to prevent an epidemic in North Carolina’s prisons and jails Learn … Read more

The Carolina Public Press features Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Faculty, on “UPDATED: Coronavirus raises health, legal concerns for NC jails.” UPDATED: Coronavirus raises health, legal concerns for NC jails Learn how Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, CHER Faculty talks about how COVID-19 … Read more

Krist Perreira, PhD and Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, have received an R01 from the National, Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) titled, Cardiovascular Health of Sexual and Gender Minorities in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (SGM HCHS/SOL). … Read more

Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc, Kenan Distinguished Professor in the UNC Department of Social Medicine and Director for the UNC Center of Health Equity Research, has recently launched a podcast, A Different Kind of Leader. In addition to Corbie-Smith as host, … Read more

Providing a Safe Place for All Patients January 17, 2020 By Divya Williams Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA  Before becoming a PA, or even knowing about the profession, Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA, knew she wanted to provide … Read more

What path led you to pursue a career in health equity? I grew up in a family of Public Health professionals. Since very early in my life, I would help my parents with their work and I saw first-hand the … Read more

The American Journal of Public Health released a special issue on “Documenting and Addressing the Health Impacts of Carceral Systems”. CHER Faculty, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein is featured as one of the guest editors for this special issue. Read the full text … Read more

The American Journal of Public Health released a special issue on “Documenting and Addressing the Health Impacts of Carceral Systems”. CHER Faculty, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein is featured as one of the guest editors for this special issue. Read the full text … Read more

CHER Faculty Associates, Wizdom Powell, Leah Frerichs, Kristen Hassmiller Lich, and CHER Director and Faculty, Giselle Corbie-Smith, other authors have co-authored a paper on how medicaid expansion reduce cancer and saves lives for African American males. Their publication is featured … Read more

The Carolina Center for Public Service, UNC RURAL and other partners hosted the Connect, Engage, Transform: Rural Community Partnerships conference to bring together stakeholders from North Carolina’s rural communities and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to highlight … Read more

CHER Core Faculty, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein and colleagues publish work that concludes that prison and jail-based programs that screen and provide treatment for Opioid Use Disorder has the potential to reduce overdose post-release and save lives. “Current findings underscore the importance … Read more

CHER Faculty, Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, and her team released recent finding on how multiple forms of stigma may increase risk for mental illness and cardiovascular disease among Black and Latina Transgender Women Living with HIV. UNC School of … Read more

Check out the following blog post by Desman Wilson, a UNC Gil Intern who spent his Fall Semester as an intern in the UNC Center for Health Equity Research. His worked focused around planning for a health equity hackathon, currently … Read more

The Carolina Center for Public Service, the Provost’s Initiative on Rural Communities and other partners are hosting the Connect, Engage, Transform: Rural Community Partnerships conference to bring together stakeholders from North Carolina’s rural communities and the University of North Carolina … Read more

CHER faculty, Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, talked to Inverse about her study on solitary confinement in prisons. She found that people held in restrictive housing were 127 percent more likely to die from opioid overdose in the two weeks after their … Read more

CHER Director, Giselle Corbie-Smith, and Executive Director for Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH), Al Richmond, delivered the closing keynote at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Annual Meeting on September 20, 2019.

The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics is a prestigious international reference collection that publishes reviews of ethical issues in public health solicited from leading scholars around the world. The recently published volume features work by five faculty and two … Read more