Center for Health and Social Inequalities Research (CHSIR)

The Center for Health and Inequality Research, established in 2005, brings a renewed effort to tackling some of the nation's toughest health and social issues. Racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience significant disparities in health, health care access, and the receipt of culturally appropriate health services. There is a growing recognition that improving the health of vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, low income populations, and women and children depends on shifting from an individual to a broader social, economic and political understanding of health. The Center, housed in the Department of Sociology, draws on the unique strengths of faculty who are committed to expanding the understanding of the causes and consequences of health disparities, and providing policy-relevant research to reduce them.

The Center’s research clusters include health, education, immigration, social justice, neighborhoods and social and environmental sustainability. It is well-established that the social conditions under which people live are profound determinants of their health: illnesses are often related to social, economic, political, and environmental circumstances. Commonly recognized determinants include income and social status, personal support networks, education and literacy, employment/working conditions, social and physical environments and culture. While it was well documented that individuals in various socio-economic groups experience differing health outcomes, there are still many gaps to understanding the specific factors and means by which these factors lead to illness as well as translating current knowledge into policy changes and improved social and health outcomes.