Racial disparities in health and life expectancy are public health problems that have existed since before the US became a country and affect all American's lives. On average, Black Americans have poorer overall health than White Americans and receive lower quality healthcare. This volume presents research from a broad range of academic disciplines, personal narratives, and historical sources to explain the origins of anti-Black racism and describe specific ways in which it threatens both Black Americans' health and the quality of their medical care. Using their own research and public policy expertise, the authors analyze the critical roles of individual and systemic racial bias in these racial health disparities and their consequence for all Americans. They also identify current viable interventions that can reduce current racial health disparities. Unequal Health is invaluable to professionals who study health disparities and lay people who are concerned about them.
Author Biography:
Louis A. Penner, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Oncology at Wayne State University, USA. His research focuses on the causes of racial health disparities. His research team was among the first to identify implicit racial bias as a source of racial healthcare disparities. He has published more than 190 scientific articles, books, and book chapters. He is a Past President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues; and Fellow of three professional societies. He has served on advisory committees for the National Cancer Institute and given lectures on health disparities to the American Cancer Society and other healthcare organizations. John F. Dovidio, PhD is Carl Iver Hovland Professor of Psychology and Public Health Emeritus at Yale University, USA and Senior Scientist at Diversity Science, a company that translates the latest science to build diverse and inclusive organizations. He consults regularly on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and in other areas. His research interests are in racism and implicit bias. He has published over 500 articles and chapters, and he has edited or authored over a dozen books. He has received numerous scholarly awards and has served in major leadership roles in several psychological organizations. He was part of the 2003 Committee that produced the Institute of Medicine's landmark volume, 'Unequal Treatment.' Nao Hagiwara, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. With training background in basic experimental social psychology, she grounds her applied health and healthcare disparities research in social psychology theories of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. She has obtained multiple NIH grants on healthcare providers' implicit bias and published over 50 scientific articles and book chapters. Her recent work on provider implicit bias has appeared in flagship journals and scientific magazines, such as the Lancet and Scientific American. Brian D. Smedley, PhD is an Equity Scholar at the Urban Institute, USA where he conducts research and policy analysis to address the impact of structural and institutional forms of racism on health. Previously, he held leadership positions at the American Psychological Association, National Collaborative for Health Equity, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, The Opportunity Agenda, and the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine). Among his awards and distinctions, Dr. Smedley has been honored by the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, American Public Health Association, American Psychological Association, and National Academy of Sciences. He was part of the 2003 Committee that produced the Institute of Medicine's landmark volume, 'Unequal Treatment.'
