Institute for
Health Equity and Social Justice Research

research applied

Video: Learn about Health Equity and Social Justice Research in Action

Tackling complex social and health issues through real-world research.

Disparities in health and mental health arise and persist as the result of complex individual, societal, and global factors. We bring together faculty and students from across Northeastern University, along with external research partners, to tackle these complex challenges. Our teams draw upon a wide range of research methods and interventions, but share a common commitment to promoting health equity and social justice through high-impact, community engaged research.

Research areas

REAL-WORLD

Little Ukrainian girl looking over her father's shoulder and holding a Ukrainian flag

research area

Refugee, immigrant, and global health

For more than a decade, the institute has organized interdisciplinary research teams to improve the lives of refugee and immigrant populations. We work with partners such as Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital to explore discrimination and health issues among Somali refugees. Another current project involves the impact that sanctuary cities have on health and well-being have on its communities.

world class

Little boy playing with wall puzzle

research area

Violence prevention and trauma

The institute conducts research on the cause and prevention of violence, including child abuse, youth violence, sexual assault, community violence, and intimate partner/teen dating violence. We evaluate the effectiveness of proposed interventions and develop new interventions based on an ecological approach to environmental, social, and individual determinants of violence.

thought leaders

Man in wheelchair searching shelves at a food bank

research area

Public mental health and substance abuse

The institute is home to national thought leaders in behavioral health research, with a special emphasis on mental health and substance abuse. We explore how stigma, discrimination, and socioeconomic factors affect access to education, employment, and medical health. The institute also promotes public involvement in our research through community-based participatory research methods.

community

For women of different ages keeping fit together

research area

Health promotion and disease prevention

Institute faculty research how social and economic factors influence health and disease prevention. Currently, we are focused on HIV/AIDS, obesity, and Hepatitis C, as well as how racial and ethnic disparities affect pregnancy outcomes across generations.

Student Opportunities

Health Equity Internships

Health Equity Interns are Northeastern University undergraduate students who commit to working four hours a week during one academic semester at the Institute on Health Equity and Social Justice Research in its mission of conducting research towards advancing health equity and social inclusion and reducing health disparities.  Opportunities are available for interns to continue an affiliation with the Institute once the semester internship is completed.

APPLICATION NOW OPEN!

The health equity internship includes the following:

  • Experience in public health research focused on health equity and social inclusion and reducing health disparities.
  •  Research skills trainings. Trainings will include but are not limited to literature reviews, reference software, focus groups, and Institutional Review Boards and human subject’s protections.
  •  Opportunities to meet, learn from, and collaborate with the Institute’s faculty and staff.
  •  Opportunities to work on projects collaboratively and independently.
  •  The possibility of presenting at RISE and other dissemination activities.
  •  Opportunities to convene with other Health Equity Interns.
  •  Continued supervision throughout the intern program.

Your responsibilities would be as follows:

  • Meeting with the Program Assistant Director to discuss current research opportunities and to determine the focus of the intern’s work during the semester.
  •  Meet with the Program Assistant Director and supervisor if different, determine individual intern goals for the semester.
  •  Conduct research activities related to the determined focus of work. Such tasks can include, but is not limited to conducting literature reviews, data entry, transcription of interviews and/or focus groups, attending project meetings and taking notes.
  •  Participate in research training activities, Works in Progress Series, and twice a semester internship gatherings.
  •  Complete an assessment at the end of the semester and meet with the Program Assistant Director to discuss the assessment which includes the goals set in the beginning of the internship.

The Fall 2024 Health Equity Internship application is open until Sunday, April 21st.

Please reach out to Suzanne Garverich at [email protected] with any questions regarding the application process.

*Please note that first semester Health Equity Interns must be enrolled in classes and cannot be on co-op.*

Starting in the spring of 2022 we will have an opportunity for a dual internship experience with the Women’s Research and Engagement Network (WREN).  WREN, is a student-led program dedicated to promoting and celebrating the success of female-aligned individuals at Northeastern. 

As a dual program member, you will receive all the benefits of the Health Equity Internship program and more. You will be considered a WREN Scholar, meaning that you will have access to career panels, skills-based trainings, and social networking nights with an interdisciplinary cohort of undergraduate women in research.

During fall semesters, Scholars also will be eligible to present their research at the WREN Summit, the nation’s first undergraduate interdisciplinary women’s research conference.

To support your participation in both the WREN Scholar Program and the Health Equity Internship, attendance requirements for each will be adjusted accordingly. There will be an additional 2-3 hours of events/trainings a month for the dual internship.

If you are a female-aligned individual and would like to apply to the dual internship please indicate that on the Health Equity Intern application.

Research awards


Health Equity Pilot Awards

With the support the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research has been able to provide funding to support Faculty Scholars as they develop their research portfolios in advancing the goals of health equity for diverse populations made vulnerable through marginalization and exclusion through the Advancing Health Equity Pilot Awards.

PEAK Experiences Awards

The PEAK Experiences Awards are funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, a progressively structured sequence of opportunities designed to support students as they continue climbing to new heights of achievement in undergraduate research and creative endeavor throughout their Northeastern journeys. 

2022-2023 Awards

A photo of Professor Rachel Rodgers smiling.

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Towards Parent-led Interventions for Body Inclusiveness


A photo of Professor Dani Snyder-Young smiling.

Dani Snyder-Young
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Studying Social Stigma and Affect in Diverse Audiences of “This is Treatment”


A photo of Professor Danielle Crookes smiling.

Danielle Crookes
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences & College of Social Science and Humanities

Title: Sanctuary Policies and Receipt of Preventive Cardiovascular Care Among Immigrants in the US


A photo of Professor John Olawepo smiling.

John Olawepo
Assistant Teaching Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: An Exploration of Barriers to and Facilitators of Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening in Nigeria:  A Qualitative Study


A phot of Professor Leanne Chukoskie smiling.

Leanne Chukoskie
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences & College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: An Intergenerational Game Jam


A photo of Professor Rebekah Moore smiling.

Rebekah Moore
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Advancing Racial and Health Equity through the Arts: A community-engaged research study in the city of Boston


A photo of Professor Lorna Hayward smiling.

Lorna Hayward
Associate Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Increasing Access to Equitable Adaptive Sports Opportunities to Promote Physical and Mental Health for College Students with Disabilities


2020-2021 Awards

A photo of Professor Amy Lu smiling.

Amy Lu
Associate Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design aBouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: How effective are active video games? A meta-analysis across the lifespan in clinical and nonclinical populations


A photo of Professor Linda Blum smiling.

Linda Blum
Professor of Sociology
College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Title: BRCA Communities In the Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Online Peer Support


A photo of Professor Collette Ncube smiling.

Collette Ncube
Research Associate of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health

Title:  Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)


A photo of Professor Danielle Levac smiling.

Danielle Levac
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title:  Immersive virtual reality as a training modality for the development of a growth mindset in economically-disadvantaged children and youth


A photo of Professor Hermine Poghosyan smiling.

Hermine Poghosyan
Assistant Professor
Faculty, School of Nursing

Title: Racial/ethnic disparities in lung cancer screening potentially due to current screening guidelines


A photo of Professor Tiffany Joseph smiling.

Tiffany Joseph
Associate Professor
College of Social Science and Humanities

Title: (Not) All In: Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Exclusion, and Health Care in America’s City on a Hill


A photo of Professor Dami Ko smiling.

Dami Ko
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing

Title: Socioeconomic Inequities in Health among Urban Liver Transplant Recipients


A photo of Professor Miso Kim smiling.

Miso Kim
Assistant Professor
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: Designing services to assist isolated older adults in senior living centers during COVID-19


A photo of Professor Kara Pavone smiling.

Kara Pavone
Assistant Professor
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title:  Pain-Related Disparities Among Patients with Substance Use Disorder 


A photo of Professor Rachel Rodgers smiling.

Rachel Rodgers
Associate Professor
College of Social Sciences and Humanities and Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Title: Beyond White Bread: A Delphi Study for an Equitable Healthy Eating Scale


A photo of Professor Margo Lindauer smiling.

Margo Lindauer
Associate Professor
School of Law and Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Project: Domestic Violence Clinic


2021-2022 PEAK Awards

Fall 2021 Recipients

A photo of Julia Zalvino smiling.

Julia Zalvino, COS ’24
College of Arts, Media and Design

Title: “Which Types of Social Media Are Helpful for Body Image: Hearing from Diverse Youth”
Mentor: Professor Rachel Rodgers, Department of Applied Psychology, Bouvé

Base Camp Award


A photo of Haley Moriarty smiling.

Haley Moriarty, Bouvé ’23

Title: “Parenting in the Time of Social Media: A Qualitative Study of Parental Involvement in Teens’ Social Media Use”
Mentor: Professor Rachel Rodgers, Department of Psychology, Bouvé

Base Camp Award


A photo of Julia Dierker smiling.

Julia Dierker, Bouvé ’24

Title: “Mixed-Method Telehealth Research”
Mentor: Professor Dami Ko, School of Nursing, Bouvé

Base Camp Award


A photo of Julia Denlinger smiling.

Julia DenlingerBouvé ’22

Title: “Firearm Suicide Prevention Strategies for Firearm Owners and the Preventability of Firearm Suicide”
Mentor: Suzanne Garverich, Institute for Health Equity & Social Justice Research, Bouvé

Base Camp Award


A photo of Meghna Iyer smiling.

Meghna IyerBouvé ’22

Title: “Improving Guardrail Damage Reporting to Promote Injury Prevention in Motor Vehicle Crashes”
Mentor: Professor Alisa Lincoln, Department of Health Sciences, Bouvé

Summit Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper DuvalCSSH ’23

Title: “‘Pray to the Mumbai Government’: Government Officials and Legal Exclusion in a Non-notified Settlement in India”
Mentor: Professor Liza Weinstein, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, CSSH

Summit Award


A photo of Owen Graham-O’Regan smiling.

Owen Graham-O’ReganCSSH ’23

Title: “Changing Laws or Changing Norms? The Impact of Female Leadership on Intimate Partner Violence in India”
Mentor: Professor Bilge Erten, Department of Economics, CSSH

Ascent Award


A photo of Dorian Stump smiling.

Dorian Stump, Bouvé ’22

Title: “American Firearm Suicide Prevention Project”
Mentor: Professor Alisa Lincoln, Department of Health Sciences, Bouvé

Base Camp Award


Spring 2022 Recipients

A photo of Rayna Haque smiling.

Rayna Haque, Bouvé ’22

Title: “Somali Parent Perspectives on Barriers to Diagnosis in Children with Developmental Disabilities” 
Mentor: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Summer Kelly smiling.

Summer Kelly Bouvé ’24

Title: “Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities: Measurement and Determinants of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity” 
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Julia Denlinger smiling.

Julia Denlinger Bouvé’22

Title: “Firearm Suicide Prevention Project” 
Mentor: Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


A photo of Dorian Stump smiling.

Dorian Stump Bouvé ’22

Title: “Firearm Suicide Prevention Project”
Mentors: Suzanne Garverich, Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research; and Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


Summer 2022 Recipients

A photo of Sara Lowell smiling.

Sara Lowell COS ’24

Title: “Identification of Areas for Improved Alignment in the Human Services Sector with State Government Entities”
Mentors: Amy Helburn, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Ascent Award


A photo of Olivia Durant smiling.

Olivia Durant Bouvé ’23

Title: “The Lived Experience of Calciphylaxis: Living with a Disease of Clinically Uncertain Etiology”
Mentors: Carmel Salhi, Bouvé, Health Sciences 

Trail-Blazer Award


2020-2021 PEAK Awards

Fall 2020 Recipients

A photo of Valeria Do Vale smiling.

Valeria Do ValeCSSH ’21

Title: “Immigrants’ Healthcare Access Under Shifting Public Policies”
Mentor: Professor Tiffany Joseph, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Maya Rabow smiling.

Maya RabowCOS ’23

Title: “Crisis Responses in Early Childhood Mental Health during COVID-19: The Importance of Systems-Building”
Mentor: Professor Beth Molnar, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Angelica Fuiza smiling.

Angelica FuizaBouvé ’22

Title: “Twenty Seconds a Day: The Impact of Tiktok Diet Culture Content on Young Women”
Mentor: Professor Rachel Rodgers, Applied Psychology

Summit Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper DuvalCSSH ’23

Title: “The Shame of the Slum: An Exploratory Study of Territorial Stigma and Mental Wellbeing in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai”
Mentor: Professor Liza Weinstein, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Kevin Dunne smiling.

Kevin Dunne, CSSH ’21

Title: “COVID-19 and Domestic Violence”
Mentor: Professor Bilge Erten, Economics

Base Camp Award


Anisa Amiji, Bouvé ’22

Title: “Examining Information-Seeking During COVID-19”
Mentor: Professor Miso Kim, Art + Design

Base Camp Award


A photo of Cate Henning smiling.

Cate HenningBouvé ’23

Title: “Drug-Induced Homicides: The Solution or the Problem?”
Mentor: Professor Leo Beletsky, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Gal Nissan smiling.

Gal Nissan, Bouvé ’22

Title: “The Longitudinal Effects of Body Image Concerns on  Health Outcomes”
Mentor: Professor Rachel Rodgers, Psychology

Base Camp Award


A photo of Cullen Bober smiling.

Cullen BoberBouvé ’21

Title: “Exploring DIH Charges and Carceral Budgets”
Mentor: Professor Leo Beletsky, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Meghna Iyer smiling.

Meghna IyerBouvé ’22

Title: “Improving Guardrail Damage Reporting to Promote Injury Prevention in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Mentor: Professor Alisa Lincoln, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Kenadi Kaewmanaprasert smiling.

Kenadi KaewmanaprasertBouvé ’24

Title: “Influence of Documentation Status and Race on Immigrant Healthcare Access”
Mentor: Professor Tiffany Joseph, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Rayna Haque smiling.

Rayna HaqueBouvé ’22

Title: “A Qualitative Review of Mental Health and Exposure to Violence in Resettled Refugees”
Mentor: Professor Carmel Salhi, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Shurobhi Nandi smiling.

Shurobhi NandiCOS ’22

Title: “Improving Access to Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Child Welfare”
Mentor: Professor Beth Molnar, Health Sciences

Ascent Award


A photo of Winnie Li smiling.

Winnie LiBouvé ’21

Title: “Digital Media Use and Mental Health in College Students”
Mentor: Professor Lichuan Ye, Nursing

Ascent Award


Spring 2021 Recipients

A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper DuvalCSSH ’23

Title: “The Shame of the Slum: An Exploratory Study of Territorial Stigma and Mental Well-Being in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai”
Mentor: Professor Liza Weinstein, Sociology and Anthropology

Ascent Award


A photo of Connor Holmes smiling.

Connor HolmesBouvé ’21

Title: “Exploring Transgender, Non-binary, and Genderqueer Dating App Use”
Mentor: Professor Laura Senier, Health Sciences

Summit Award


A photo of Lujane Barakat smiling.

Lujane Barakat, Bouvé ’21

Title: “Oral Health Behaviors and Self-Image”
Mentor: Professor Rachel Rodgers, Applied Psychology

Ascent Award


Summer 2021 Recipients

A photo of Yechan Yang smiling.

Yechan YangCOS ’22

Title: “LGBTQ Health Care Disparities in Telemedicine”
Mentor: Professor Alisa Lincoln, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Morgan Wong smiling.

Morgan WongBouvé ’24

Title: “Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)”
Mentor: Professor Collette Ncube, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Ciara Sosnowski smiling.

Ciara SosnowskiCAMD ’23

Title: “Arts, Health, and Wellbeing: A Literature Review”
Mentor: Professor Rebekah Moore, CAMD, Music

Summit Award


A photo of Thao-Mi Nguyen smiling.

Thao-Mi NguyenBouvé ’25

Title: “Un-Masking the Origins of Maternal Mortality/Morbidity Inequities (UMOMMI)”
Mentor: Professor Collette Ncube, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Health Sciences

Base Camp Award


A photo of Nikita Murli smiling.

Nikita MurliCOS ’23

Title: “Tracking Drug-Induced Homicide (DIH) Charges in the United States”
Mentor: Professor Leo Beletsky, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Law and Public Policy

Base Camp Award


A photo of Jasper Duval smiling.

Jasper DuvalCSSH ’23

Title: “‘We Live in Garbage’: Legal Exclusion in a Non-Notified Settlement in Mumbai”
Mentor: Professor Liza Weinstein, CSSH, Sociology and Anthropology

Summit Award


A photo of Kevin Dunne smiling.

Kevin DunneCSSH ’22

Title: “COVID-19 and Mental Health”
Mentor: Professor Bilge Erten, CSSH, Economics

Ascent Award


Annual reports

This has been an exciting and productive year for us at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research. As you will see in the reports our teams of faculty, students, and community partners have been busy with new and exciting programmatic and research efforts.

About us

Mission

The mission of this institute is to generate scientific knowledge needed to promote health equity and social justice, and reduce disparities in health, mental health, and well-being.

History

The Institute on Urban Health Research was first funded in 2001 as part of Provost’s initiative and was led by its Founding Director, Dr. Hortensia Amaro. The IUHR was formed as a university-wide research center that would engage faculty and students from diverse disciplines. It later was moved into Bouvé College of Health Sciences, which remains our home college.

Later the Institute name was amended to The Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice under the leadership of John Auerbach. In 2018, with the appointment of Dr. Alisa K. Lincoln as the Institute Director, we have changed our name and are now the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research.

The Institute remains committed to the core mission first established in 2001 to improve the health and well-being of the residents of Boston and other urban communities. The Institute is focused on the social determinants of health in urban settings, the promotion of health equity and the elimination of health disparities. However, with the growth of the Institute, our ongoing work with diverse groups of students, faculty and community partners, and the current scientific and social needs, we have rearticulated our mission to include greater attention to health equity and social justice and to reflect our partnerships with the growing number of communities impacted by inequity and social marginalization.

Message from the Director

Despite tremendous advances in health care, the benefits of these advances have not been equally shared across communities. Many communities experience disparities in health, mental health, and well-being and at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research our teams of interdisciplinary researchers, students and community partners are engaged in a wide-range of efforts to prevent and reduce these health disparities associated with race, gender, neighborhood, immigration status, sexual orientation, and other stigmatized or marginalized statuses.

We focus attention on the social and economic determinants of health and mental health and increasing understanding of the factors that challenge health and well-being and those that promote community strength and resilience. Our teams are engaged in the development of strategies to reduce disparities through intervention and policy aimed at promoting health equity and social justice.  

Disparities in health and mental health arise and persist as the result of complex individual, community, societal and global factors. At the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research we bring together faculty and students from across Northeastern University’s many departments and colleges, along with our research partners, to tackle these complex challenges. Our teams draw upon a wide range of research methods and intervention strategies but share common commitments to promoting health equity and social justice through high-impact, community engaged research.

Contact Us

To learn more about what we do, or for more information on how to work with the Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research (IHESJR), contact us.

Phone: 617-373-5813

Hours: 9:00AM – 5:00PM (ET)

Postal Address:
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave, 314 INV
Boston, MA 02115

For questions related to the Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, please email Vicarious Trauma Toolkit Information.

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