From Our Research Director:
“Research is the foundation of our mission to end health disparities and advance equity in communities nationwide. I invite you to explore our work and see how you can contribute to this mission.”
Research Committees
NAEHD has established a dedicated research committee for each strategic priority, supporting our mission through focused inquiry and collaborative insight.
Participation is reserved for dues-paying members at the Associate level or higher.
If you’re interested in joining, email: research@naehd.org
Our Strategic Priorities
Driving Change in Five Key Areas
Identifying Barriers & Improving Access
Our aim is to dismantle barriers to health equity and expand access to high-quality care. We strive to ensure everyone receives the support needed to live a healthy life.
Improving Maternal Health Outcomes
Black women face maternal mortality rates nearly three times higher than white women. We aim to bridge this gap through targeted, equity-driven strategies and advocacy.
Focusing on Chronic Disease, Rare Disease, & Preventive Care
NAEHD aims to eliminate health disparities in chronic and rare disease care by advancing research, expanding education, and increasing access to effective treatment.
Expanding Counseling & Mental Health Services
NAEHD aims to expand access to mental health services while reducing stigmas and providing free resources to impacted communities.
Assisting the Under & Uninsured
NAEHD vows to support the underinsured and uninsured by helping individuals access affordable care, coverage options, and essential health services in their communities.
Check out our research & publications
Research Spotlight: Evidence Driving Equity
New (March 2026)
Medical Debt Associated With Deferring Dental, Medical, and Mental Health Care
This research report from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that adults with medical debt were significantly more likely to delay or forgo dental, medical, and mental health care. The study highlights medical debt as a major barrier to accessing essential services, underscoring its role as a driver of worsening health outcomes.
Read more here: Medical Debt Associated with Deferring Dental, Medical, and Mental Health Care | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health
UConn Health Disparities Institute Leads the Way: Making Moves for Menopause Equity
The University of Connecticut Health Disparities Institute is launching a statewide initiative to advance menopause equity, focusing on improving access to evidence‑based information, culturally responsive care, and community‑centered support for women experiencing menopause. The effort aims to reduce disparities by ensuring that women, especially those from marginalized communities, receive the education, resources, and clinical guidance needed to navigate menopause with dignity and better health outcomes.
Read more here: UConn Health Disparities Institute Leads the Way: Making Moves for Menopause Equity – UConn Today
(February 2026)
The 2026 State of the Latino Family in the US
This research report highlights that Hispanic families are twice as likely to lose health coverage due to “Medicaid churn” and the expiration of federal subsidies. This loss of insurance is directly linked to a sharp decline in vaccination rates and a corresponding tripling of measles cases in Latino-heavy school districts this year.
Read more here: The 2026 State of the Latino Family in the U.S. – Hispanic Federation
Babies’ health could be tied to mothers’ zip codes, MCG study shows
A new study from Dr. Mary Arthur at the Medical College of Georgia reveals that rural mothers face significant structural disadvantages that lead to a 30% higher risk of poor infant health scores (Apgar scores of 6 or lower) compared to urban peers. With 141 out of 159 Georgia counties now classified as medically underserved due to hospital closures and “maternity care deserts,” the research underscores the urgent need for “Digital Health Hubs.” These hubs would use tele-consultation to bridge the gap in maternal and neonatal care between rural clinics and specialized urban centers.
Read more here: Babies’ health could be tied to mothers’ zip codes, MCG study shows – Jagwire
VOICES of Black Women (American Cancer Society) Digital inclusion
The American Cancer Society has launched VOICES of Black Women, a landmark long-term study aiming to enroll 100,000 Black women to investigate the unique social and environmental drivers of cancer disparities. By tracking lived experiences over several decades, researchers aim to uncover the root causes of why Black women face higher mortality rates and use those insights to improve health outcomes for future generations.
Read more here: VOICES of Black Women | American Cancer Society
Digital Health Equity for Hispanic Families (Baylor College of Medicine)
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are pioneering a “co-design” approach to digital health by partnering with Hispanic families to build more accessible diabetes prevention tools. This project moves beyond standard apps to create culturally responsive platforms that prioritize family-based support and simplified user interfaces, ensuring that life-saving health technology actually reaches the communities that need it most.
(January 2026)
Digital Inclusion Pathways To Health Equity
Digital inclusion research examines how unequal access to high-speed internet, hardware, and tech literacy functions as a “super-determinant” that prevents marginalized groups from accessing modern healthcare.
Read more here: https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/digital-inclusion-pathways-health-equity
The AI Arms Race In Health Insurance Utilization Review: Promises Of Efficiency And Risks Of Supercharged Flaws
Building a Healthier Future: Designing for AI Health Equity (NAACP)
Researchers warn that insurers are using AI to automate prior authorizations at such high speeds that human doctors can no longer meaningfully review denials, essentially “locking in” historical biases against marginalized groups.
Read more here: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00897
This report outlines a three-layer governance framework to ensure healthcare AI reduces racial disparities rather than automating historical biases through flawed datasets. It calls for urgent collaboration between tech developers, hospitals, and policymakers to implement “equity-first” standards, such as mandatory bias audits and community-led data oversight.
Read more here: https://naacp.org/resources/building-healthier-future-designing-ai-health-equity
Health Affairs: Consumer Debt, Race, and Health (December 2025)
This policy brief identifies consumer debt as a fundamental social determinant of health that disproportionately traps Black and Hispanic families in cycles of financial stress and poor health outcomes. The research argues that debt relief including student loan forgiveness and bankruptcy reform should be treated as a critical public health intervention to narrow racial health gaps.
Read more here: https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/consumer-debt-race-and-health-can-debt-relief-solution-reducing-racial-health