Social Epidemiology

Hands holding a mask

Racism: The Root Cause of COVID-19 Disparities in Washtenaw County

Jeremiah Simon

Black residents of Washtenaw County, like elsewhere in Michigan, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In the fight to gain racial justice in the US, it is critical that we examine how racism contributes to health inequities right here in our backyard.

Cigarettes

Older Americans Are Risking Coronavirus Exposure to Get Their Medications

Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher and Sarah Vordenberg

It’s been nearly a month since the US government began urging older Americans to stay home to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus. That means many older adults may be running out of their usual 30-day supplies of medication. As the pandemic continues to spread, they increasingly face a difficult challenge: how to get the medications they need without putting themselves at risk.

family canoeing down flooded road in Houston, Texas

Disease in the Era of Climate Change: Human Disease Burdens in a Dynamic World

Introduced by John Meeker

In the field of public health alone, climate change will in some way impact every area of this broad, diverse discipline. How will human health adapt to a rapidly changing world and to rapidly evolving disease burdens as climate change threatens natural environments and already vulnerable populations?