Authors: Paris B Adkins-Jackson, Tongtan Chantarat, Zinzi D Bailey...

There have been over 100 years of literature discussing the deleterious influence of racism on health. Much of the literature describes racism as a driver of social determinants of health, such as housing, employment, income, and education. More recently, increased attention has been given to measuring the structural nature of a system that advantages one racialized group over others rather than solely relying on individual acknowledgement of racism. Despite these advances, there is still a need for methodological and analytical approaches to complement the aforementioned. This commentary calls on epidemiologists and other health researchers at large to engage the discourse on measuring structural racism. First, we address the conflation between race and racism in epidemiologic research. Next, we offer methodological recommendations (linking of interdisciplinary variables and data sets and leveraging mixed-method and life-course approaches) and analytical recommendations (integration of mixed data, use of multidimensional models) that epidemiologists and other health researchers may consider in health equity research. The goal of this commentary is to inspire the use of up-to-date and theoretically driven approaches to increase discourse among public health researchers on capturing racism as well as to improve evidence of its role as the fundamental cause of racial health inequities.

Topics: Epidemiologists; Health Equity; Humans; Public Health; Racism; Systemic Racism

PubMed: 34564723
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab239

Authors: K J Rothman

Topics: Biomedical Research; Confidentiality; Epidemiologic Methods; Epidemiology; Ethical Review; Ethics Committees, Clinical; Ethics Committees, Research; Ethics, Medical; Government Regulation; Humans; Legislation, Medical; Patient Advocacy; Research; United States

PubMed: 7315992
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.71.12.1309

Authors: Richard P Wenzel

PubMed: 36712470
DOI: 10.1017/ash.2022.352

Authors:

Susan Cheng is a clinical cardiologist, statistically trained epidemiologist, faculty mentor, and director of programs in cardiovascular population sciences, healthy aging, and public health research. In this Q&A, she shares her academic journey, current research activities, mentoring, and future directions with Cell Reports Medicine.

Topics: Faculty; Female; Humans; Mentoring; Mentors

PubMed: 35522097
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100596

Authors: Bennett Allen, Ashley Lewis

The positive effects of increased diversity and inclusion in scientific research and practice are well documented. In this issue, DeVilbiss et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2020;189(10):998-1010) present findings from a survey used to collect information to characterize diversity among epidemiologists and perceptions of inclusion in the epidemiologic profession. They capture identity across a range of personal characteristics, including race, gender, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, religion, and political leaning. In this commentary, we assert that the inclusion of political leaning as an axis of identity alongside the others undermines the larger project of promoting diversity and inclusion in the profession and is symptomatic of the movement for "ideological diversity" in higher education. We identify why political leaning is not an appropriate metric of diversity and detail why prioritizing ideological diversity counterintuitively can work against equity building initiatives. As an alternative to ideological diversity, we propose that epidemiologists take up an existing framework for research and practice that centers the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized populations in epidemiologic work.

Topics: Cultural Diversity; Epidemiology; Politics

PubMed: 32602537
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa102

Authors: Matt T Bianchi, Robert J Thomas, M Brandon Westover...

Topics: Epidemiologists; Self Report

PubMed: 28843388
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.07.017

Review

Authors: Priya Gogia, Veena Melwani, Satish Melwani...

Epidemic outbreaks and biological disasters pose serious challenges to the country due to enormous population and weak public health system; to combat the same, we need epidemic preparedness. The steps of epidemic preparedness embrace and incorporate to anticipate, prevent, prepare, detect, and respond. The four stages of the present epidemic COVID-19 have been described. The requirement of proper coordination among the epidemiologist, clinician, laboratory personnel, and health educator is sum and substance of it. Levels for epidemic preparedness inculcate preparation at four levels including central, state, local, and health facility. The impact of epidemic has adverse health, social, as well as economic implications.

PubMed: 35662889
DOI: 10.4103/digm.digm_11_20

Review

Authors: Eleanor Erin Artigiani, Eric D Wish

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In 2013, NIH NIDA released a special funding opportunity to update and expand their longstanding Community Epidemiology Workgroup (CEWG) by creating a coordinating center for a new type of monitoring system that became the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS). This article provides an overview of four primary NDEWS components: core staff; an approach to detecting and monitoring emerging drug trends including community-based epidemiologists and national databases; small rapid follow-up studies; and innovative multimedia approaches for disseminating information.

RECENT FINDINGS

The cornerstones for detecting and monitoring are the 1700+ member NDEWS Network and a coalition of local epidemiologists. Follow-up studies are designed with local researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to focus on local trends. Among NDEWS accomplishments are developing protocols for expanded urinalyses in high-risk populations and conducting follow-up studies with local collaborators in New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and a tribal nation in Minnesota.

SUMMARY

During its first 6 years, NDEWS has advanced its mission to develop multidisciplinary collaborations and innovative technologies for identifying, monitoring, and following up on emerging drug trends and has contributed to the translation of science into practice. VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/YCO/A55.

Topics: Drug Monitoring; Humans; Intersectoral Collaboration; National Institute on Drug Abuse (U.S.); Substance Abuse Detection; United States; Urinalysis

PubMed: 32250985
DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000610

Authors: Lan N Ðoàn, Adrian M Bacong, Kris Pui Kwan Ma...

We present interpretations of the idea that "epidemiologists count" in response to the current status of membership and diversity and inclusion efforts within the Society for Epidemiological Research (SER). We review whom epidemiologists count to describe the (mis)representation of SER membership and how categorizations of people reflect social constructions of identity and biases that exist in broader society. We argue that what epidemiologists count-how diversity and inclusion are operationalized-has real-world implications on institutional norms and how inclusive/non-inclusive environments are. Finally, we examine which epidemiologists count within the field and argue that inclusion can only be achieved when we address how resources and opportunities are distributed among epidemiologists. To improve diversity and inclusion within SER and beyond, we recommend that SER strengthen its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity by: 1) integrating this priority on all agendas; 2) enhancing efforts to improve self-awareness among members and accountability within the organization; 3) supporting the growth of a diversifying workforce in epidemiology; and 4) increasing the visibility of health disparities research and researchers in epidemiology.

Topics: Cultural Diversity; Epidemiologists; Epidemiology; Humans

PubMed: 32602522
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa108