Subject: Spring 2025 Newsletter
From: "Epidemiology Health Equity Council (HEC)" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:41:23 +0000
List-Id: 6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036mc list <6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036.1041072.list-id.mcsv.net>

[External Email - Use Caution]
We apologize for the broken links in Tuesday's newsletter. Please find the corrected version below. Thank you for your understanding!
͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌     
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Health Equity Council Newsletter
CSPH Epidemiology Department

January 23rd, 2025

We apologize for the broken links in Tuesday’s newsletter. Please find the corrected version below. Thank you for your understanding!

Dear Epidemiology Department:

Welcome back! As we begin to settle back into a routine for Spring semester 2025, the Epidemiology Health Equity Council (HEC) would like to highlight recent events and acknowledge their impact, feature recent CSPH health equity research, and share support resources for faculty, students, and staff.

In This Newsletter

Global & National Updates

Local Updates

Upcoming Events

DEI Research Corner!

Get to Know Your HEC

Resources

Additionally, check out our new website<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=ac67ccffe6&e=2be750be69>! Here, you can find education on health equity and DEIA, a quiz<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=07b6a22bd2&e=2be750be69> to assess your DEIA understanding, newsletter archives, helpful resources for students (such as our new DEIA Incident Reporting Form<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=39f288a9b3&e=2be750be69>) and staff (such as CSPH Community Agreements<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=3d1f220f9d&e=2be750be69>), and more.

Global & National Updates

  *   Israel and Hamas - movement toward a ceasefire deal? Following a halt to ceasefire negotiations in November, international <https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=4e47521739&e=2be750be69> mediators <https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=09733711b0&e=2be750be69> have resumed negotiations with Israel to reach a ceasefire in Gaza<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=285d8b7b07&e=2be750be69>, providing hope that a deal could end the 14-month war. The agreement will likely take place in phases, including a stop in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=6437fbe122&e=2be750be69> and Palestinian prisoners<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=f48384d6a6&e=2be750be69>, and increased aid to the Gaza Strip. The impetus to move toward ceasefire resulted from several factors, including the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1d0950b33a&e=2be750be69> on November 27th, several setbacks for Iran (a key backer to both militant groups) as highlighted by the downfall of its close Syrian ally Bashar Assad<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=ede11b9981&e=2be750be69>, heavy damage on Hamas over the course of the war, and indication from the outgoing Biden administration<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=23b64d356d&e=2be750be69> and the incoming Trump administration<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=9cdfa1ff0e&e=2be750be69> that they want a deal completed before the inauguration on January 20th. Unfortunately, as of January 5th, ceasefire remains elusive, with 88 people killed in Gaza following dozens of Israel strikes<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=ea8044c4d2&e=2be750be69>. As discussed in our Fall 2024 newsletter<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=48ace02a96&e=2be750be69>, armed conflict opposes health and well-being, worsening population health directly through active fighting and indirectly via latent effects and broader socioeconomic consequences.

  *   Nationwide debates over K-12 curricula. The recent rejection of a social studies curriculum by Kansas’s Derby School District<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=cad069929b&e=2be750be69> and dozens of social studies textbooks<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=beda00e027&e=2be750be69> in Florida reflect broader attempts at curriculum control in the U.S. regarding topics of politics, critical race theory, DEI, gender, and sexuality (see list of rejected materials<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=c29145d2c2&e=2be750be69> by the Florida department of education). At the other end of the spectrum, the traditionally conservative Douglas County School District in Colorado unanimously decided to offer an elective advanced placement African American Studies course<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1f6148fdcb&e=2be750be69>, although community members have voiced initial concerns regarding the alignment of the course with the Douglas County School District’s equity policy and ensuring that critical race theory is avoided. The patchwork of grade school curricula across the country reflects that the U.S. - unlike many other countries - does not have a national curriculum for K-12 education, leaving each state in charge of determining what is taught. While this gives states autonomy, it also causes discrepancies in foundational course content across the country and, in some settings, may perpetuate structural and institutional biases.

  *   Plans to overhaul the federal government, starting with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With Donald Trump’s re-entry into office, the NIH will likely experience changes. One proposal from Republican members of Congress and conservative think tanks such as the Heritage foundation<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=845719c5a5&e=2be750be69> is to consolidate the 27 NIH institutes and centers into 15. Another proposal is to impose limits on terms of NIH leaders to prevent the establishment of figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the long-time head of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has become a target of criticism due to his changing advice about masks during the pandemic, vaccine advocacy, and contributions to the debate on origins of the SARS-CoV2 virus. Dr. Joel Zinbeg, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and director of the Public Health and American Wellbeing Initiative at the Paragon Health Institute<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=c0b6cfcfd1&e=2be750be69> suspects that the erosion of trust in public health entities during the COVID pandemic is an underlying impetus<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1ff4529864&e=2be750be69> of the impending changes, and that other public health agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will also be subject to restructuring and reorganization. While such changes hold the potential to reduce silos of expertise and streamline cross-cutting science, they will likely result in the loss of jobs for many federal employees, reduce funding for demography and disease surveillance, and may have negative implications for global health research<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=8b4c61e26b&e=2be750be69> which, in turn, will threaten efforts to mitigate health disparities.

  *   Firearm violence: a persistent threat to public health. The Gun Violence Archive documented over 488 mass shootings<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=fb21ef85fd&e=2be750be69> in the U.S. during 2024. A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed and therefore, does not include other concerning acts of firearm violence, such as the attempted assassination of incoming President Donald Trump on July 13th<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1f0bd485aa&e=2be750be69> or the shooting of United HealthCare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, on December 4th<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=077baec0a3&e=2be750be69>. Over the last four years, there have been over 600 mass shootings, which equates to an average of two per day. Yet these mass shootings represent only a small fraction (<5%) of the total firearm deaths each year. Each day, in homes and communities, individuals are injured or killed by firearms in homicides (often related to community violence or interpersonal violence) or in suicide. In Colorado, in 2022 there were 1,030 deaths from firearms, with 67% due to suicide (versus 56% nationally). While suicide accounts for the largest proportion of firearm deaths, homicide disproportionally affects certain populations, with particularly high rates among communities of color<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=4bb1086474&e=2be750be69>. These statistics highlight the need to not only continue studying determinants of firearm injury and death but also to engage with varied communities in education and prevention efforts. Dr. Emmy Betz<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=8299f8f07c&e=2be750be69>, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Deputy Director of the Injury & Violence Prevention Center, and adjunct faculty in the Department of Epidemiology, leads the CU Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=51947b9851&e=2be750be69>, which works with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and community organizations across the state. She encourages any interested faculty, staff, or students to get involved<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=9d4a8fc069&e=2be750be69>. You can also learn more about Colorado firearm injuries and deaths at the state dashboard<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=d904be7b10&e=2be750be69>, which was created by new Department of Epidemiology faculty Dr. Leslie Barnard<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=21dc8bb7ef&e=2be750be69>.

  *   Colleges and universities are offering free undergraduate tuition to middle-class families. Starting Fall 2025, many colleges and universities will offer free tuition to American families making below region-specific annual incomes, most ranging from $75,000-$200,000<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=f292176810&e=2be750be69>. This will alleviate the burden of student loans on both the student and their families for a large proportion of the U.S. In addition, some medical schools (e.g., Johns Hopkins University<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=52cedaeec4&e=2be750be69>, Albert Einstein College of Medicine<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=ce81a8b064&e=2be750be69>, NYU Grossman School of Medicine<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=f649a49a41&e=2be750be69>) have also begun to offer free tuition to a large majority or all of their students. These scholarships, made possible by philanthropic donors, will “level the playing field” in terms of access to education and subsequent jobs, and hopefully increase student and workforce diversity.

Local Updates

  *   Recent Escherichia coli outbreak underscores the importance of food safety. Between September 27th and October 10th, raw onions served on McDonald meat patties resulted in an E. coli outbreak that affected at least 75 people in 13 states, with ⅓ of cases in Colorado. To discuss food safety and public health surveillance of food-borne outbreaks, Epidemiology PhD student and member of the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=7528046fee&e=2be750be69>, Alice White<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1de304fe41&e=2be750be69>, was interviewed on Colorado Public Radio<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=63055b7d5b&e=2be750be69>. During the interview, White explained that better regulation and food handling practices have made meat contamination less common, whereas produce is now becoming a more common source of contamination due to changing consumer food practices, increased consumption, and the practice of eating produce uncooked or undercooked. Further, because produce is often commercially distributed, a single farm or a single growing region can produce the product and then distribute it to many different locations in other states across the country, leading to widespread exposure. Ultimately, more effort is needed to understand the sources of foodborne outbreaks and to remain particularly vigilant of the impacts of such outbreaks in underserved and rural communities where public health efforts may not capture disease cases.

  *   Waning enthusiasm for DEI initiatives from business corporations. Data from McKinsey’s report “Diversity Matters Even More”<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=5f601babcd&e=2be750be69> showed that the average representation of women on executive teams increased by 20% and ethnic diversity increased by 15% in 2023, three years after the corporate DEI boom in 2020. Further, the report states that the top-ranked companies for diversity were 39% more likely to outperform companies in the bottom quartile for representation. Despite these clear benefits, the Supreme Court’s dismantling of affirmative action in 2022<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1831cc04eb&e=2be750be69> has resulted in a ripple effect that adversely impacted investment in corporate DEI initiatives. In September, the Colorado-based Coors corporation announced its roll-back of DEI efforts and withdrawal from third-party rankings of corporate equality<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=619ccaf4e5&e=2be750be69>. This means that starting in 2025, Coors will no longer set specific supplier diversity goals, and diversity objectives will no longer influence bonuses; compensation will be tied solely to business performance. Coors’s decision follows on the heels of similar ones announced by other large companies, including Ford Motor Co., John Deere, Lowe’s, and McDonald’s<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=ceef228b36&e=2be750be69>. These trends are related to political pressure, societal backlash, economic concerns, and fear of criticism from certain customer segments who view DEI as divisive or unnecessary<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=a1c97dcf43&e=2be750be69>, which have led to the removal of corporate DEI programs to avoid controversy and maintain a broader customer base. While Coors, specifically, has a history of good worker conditions and has made substantial investments in diversity, including its LGBTQ+ “Tap Into Change” Program<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=572bc75959&e=2be750be69>, official divestment in DEI will inevitably coincide with the emergence of unfavorable changes, especially when companies are no longer explicit or intentional about workforce diversity.

     *   It’s more important than ever to support minority-owned businesses, as they often face unique challenges in securing investment and growth in underrepresented communities. By doing so, we can help maintain the momentum for diversity and inclusion that many larger corporations are stepping back from. Check out some Black-owned<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=313bde7eea&e=2be750be69>, Asian-owned,<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=b63737e820&e=2be750be69> and Hispanic-owned<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=7dc784f216&e=2be750be69> businesses in Aurora.

  *   Combating ageism. While Colorado is one of the state leaders for senior health and wellness<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=4ced770efc&e=2be750be69>, ageism - or discrimination and prejudice based on a person’s age - continues to have serious consequences for older people’s health and well-being. Individuals aged 65 and older will account for 1 in 5 of Colorado’s population by 2050. Fighting implicit and explicit ageism<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=63e42959d0&e=2be750be69> in yourself and others helps everyone to live healthier, happier lives. Please see materials on this topic on our website<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=52bee3f2a1&e=2be750be69>, including a presentation on inclusion of older individuals in the workforce, by Epidemiology faculty member Dr. Alison Abraham<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=8077095402&e=2be750be69>.

  *   New Colorado state law requires educational materials to be accessible by June 2025. Colorado House Bill 21-1110<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=23ccd8002f&e=2be750be69> requires that all digital content be accessible to all - i.e., perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. This law serves primarily to protect persons with disabilities from exclusion or discrimination, and is applicable to state agencies, local governments, and entities that contract with the state, including Universities. Failure to comply can result in a court order, monetary damages, attorney’s fees, or a fine of $3,500 payable to each plaintiff (must be someone from the disability community) for each violation, with financial sanctions starting July 1st, 2025. For faculty at the Colorado SPH, this means making all course materials digitally accessible on Canvas and in any other digital materials used for instruction (e.g., PowerPoint presentations, word documents, etc.). Ensuring that digital course materials are accessible can be a lot of work but will ultimately result in a large benefit for the spectrum of persons with differing abilities. Support for this process is provided by CBH faculty member Dr. Heather Kennedy<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=bf469c3b04&e=2be750be69>, who has led faculty training sessions on navigating digital accessibility (see recording<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=d15087fd67&e=2be750be69>). Additionally, the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=9cf40d5a48&e=2be750be69> also provides a guidance document on Digital Accessibility<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=c198f63fb2&e=2be750be69>.

Upcoming Events

  *   The Colorado Public Health Association (CPHA)<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=516b06fdba&e=2be750be69>’s virtual Culture of Data Conference will be April 24th and 25th<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=a2a4456d76&e=2be750be69>. The theme is "Data Science for Health Justice: Addressing the Social Determinants of Health." Abstract submissions are open until February 2nd!

DEI Research Corner!
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Epidemiology PhD student Blair Weikel co-authored an article in Health Affairs<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=cb5d9ad4de&e=2be750be69> about the use of personal identity disclosures in medical journals, whereby authors state their personal and intersectional<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=a5a038c18b&e=2be750be69> identities acknowledging the impact of potential biases held by investigative team members, and the role of structural racism. This disclosure system is based on existing Conflict of Interest policies, and if widely adopted, would create a system of public accountability for research team diversity and enable tracking of diversity and representation in publishing.

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Epidemiology faculty member Dr. Ali Abraham co-authored a recently-published paper in Translational Vision Science and Technology titled, “Social determinants of uncorrected distance and near visual impairment in an older adult population<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=1358a7b74c&e=2be750be69>.” Using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC)<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=e1d40bbadb&e=2be750be69> study, the authors found that individuals with lower educational attainment (<high school vs. >high school or college), no eye doctor, and government-based (vs. private) insurance are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have uncorrected near vision impairment, defined as impairment in the ability to read close text or do close work easily corrected with appropriate reading glasses. These results point to gaps in vision health literacy and access to vision care as drivers of correctable vision disparities. Inclusive and equitable vision care means addressing evidence-based social drivers and designing and implementing interventions that can reduce correctable vision impairment in aging adults, particularly in vulnerable individuals who may be more likely to experience barriers to vision care access.

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Epidemiology faculty member Dr. Carolyn DiGuiseppi<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=170b8fce38&e=2be750be69> co-authored a paper in Frontiers of Psychiatry titled, “Economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families of children with autism and other developmental disorders.<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=72f3f53206&e=2be750be69>” This study used data from the the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a multi-site case-control study of preschool children, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental employment and economic difficulties among families of children with autism or other developmental disorder, and in the general population. The study team found that families of children with autism, those of lower socioeconomic status, and those of minoritized racial and ethnic groups experienced lower work flexibility (e.g., less ability to transition to remote work), more employment reduction, and greater financial distress (e.g., more difficulty paying bills, greater fear of losing home) during the pandemic. Future research is required to assess where these impacts, which disproportionately affect vulnerable families, are sustained over time.

If you have published a manuscript or are working on a dissertation/capstone around health equity, please respond to this email with your abstract and paper if you’d like your work to be featured in a future newsletter. All CSPH students, professors, instructors, and alumni are encouraged to reach out.

Get to Know Your HEC
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Student Spotlight

Dorah Labatte, MPH, is a third-year doctoral student who joined the Health Equity Council in 2023. Dorah’s long-term career goal is to promote health equity for marginalized populations by bridging the gap between the public and health/medicine through effective communication and infrastructural reform. Her research focus is maternal and neonatal health. Aside from tackling stigmas head-on, Dorah enjoys baking, reading, trying new hairstyles, and yoga.

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Faculty Spotlight

Kendra Young<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=5c1f148a53&e=2be750be69>, MSPH, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and has been part of the Health Equity Council since its inception in 2020. She is co-director of the Epidemiology Core for COPDGene<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=cf4372aefb&e=2be750be69>. Her research focuses on the clinical and genetic epidemiology of smoking related conditions, including racial, ethnic, and sex disparities. In her free time, Kendra is usually outside skiing, hiking, wakeboarding, and hanging out with her family and dog. She enjoys music, reading, and travelling.

Resources
CU Campus

  *   Campus Mental Health Resources<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=100830f646&e=2be750be69>

  *   Faculty and Staff Mental Health Clinic<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=b582385ba2&e=2be750be69>

  *   Student and Resident Mental Health<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=02f6b2378d&e=2be750be69>

  *   FindHelpNow<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=368297e1ab&e=2be750be69>

  *
HEC Reporting Resources Cheat Sheet<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=819f238fc8&e=2be750be69>

Aurora/Denver Community

  *   The Center on Colfax<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=acf8ba6abb&e=2be750be69>

  *   Colorado Crisis Services<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=8c58a4c4b7&e=2be750be69>

  *   One Colorado<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=7dbebdc2a1&e=2be750be69>

  *   LGBTQ Health Care Rights and Resources (CO Dept of Regulatory Agencies)<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=e176e4166a&e=2be750be69>

Firearm Violence Resources

  *   Talking to Kids About Violence<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=c4c539af69&e=2be750be69>

  *   Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Psychologists Association)<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=d7c65d5cd5&e=2be750be69>

  *   Coping with Violence<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=5dffde83c0&e=2be750be69>

Firearm Violence and Public Health

  *   American Public Health Association (APHA) information<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=82ae01e694&e=2be750be69> about gun violence

  *   APHA’s Advocacy Fact Sheet<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=96d587d365&e=2be750be69> for Gun Violence Prevention

© 2025 | Epidemiology Health Equity Council at the Colorado School of Public Health

Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity & Accessibility (DEIA) Department of Epidemiology Website<https://gmail.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c141b9da2a46bdf8afc65036&id=5da8d9c18d&e=2be750be69>

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