The Center for Health Equity (CHE) in the Graduate School of Public Health (Pitt Public Health) is pleased to offer two yearly awards to qualified Pitt Public Health students doing a thesis or dissertation in the field of health equity. This year's recipients were Kamden Hoffmann (BCHS - PhD) and Kafuli Agbemenu (NUR - PhD).
The concept of equity encompasses fairness and justice. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) says, "health equity entails special efforts to improve the health of those who have experienced social or economic disadvantage". Further, the DHHS emphasizes addressing the social and economic conditions that have an impact on health. Equity means that all people can attain their full health protential.
The DHHS defines a health disparity or inequity as "a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have experienced greater social or economic obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group,religion, socioeconomic status, gender, mental health, cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, sexual orientation, geography, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion." Graduate students who are at the thesis or dissertation stage in any Pitt Public Health department may apply. The application must address a health equity issue or problem and should include a background section, goals, objectives, methods, relevance to public health, how the work addresses a health equity problem and a statement detailing proposed use of funds.
For any questions about the Center for Health Equity or this scholarship in particular, please email the Center for Health Equity's Scientific Director, Patricia Documet, MD, DrPH at
pdocumet@pitt.edu.
3/01/2013