Health disparities in Arizona are significant and are related to the state’s rural nature, regions of economically disadvantaged communities, and social environmental factors. To address these problems and related issues, NAU established the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) in 2016. Under the leadership of Julie Baldwin, Professor of Health Sciences, CHER engages in projects working with minority, rural, and other underserved communities to identify and understand health disparities and health priority areas; builds and maintains partnerships between these communities and researchers at NAU; and works to develop strategies to alleviate health disparities. Projects underway address public health issues for incarcerated citizens, opioid misuse and chronic pain in rural populations, and oral health interventions for American Indian children.
