Advancing Child Health Through Population Research and Equity-Driven Innovation
Cincinnati Children’s is at the forefront of research aimed at understanding and addressing the social, environmental, and systemic factors that shape child health. Our teams are committed to improving outcomes at a population scale by identifying disparities, developing upstream interventions, and partnering with communities to close gaps in care and opportunity. From developing early risk assessment tools to shaping policy through meaningful community engagement, our work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.
Population health research is multidisciplinary in nature and focuses on a wide range of factors influencing the health of population groups or whole populations. Health equity research focuses on the interrelated structures of power, environmental conditions, and systems that produce inequities in health between populations, and seeks to identify and promote both community strengths as well as potential interventions to close equity gaps. Population health and health equity research are heavily interrelated and intersecting. Such work spans several sites of care and disciplines and, importantly, is bolstered by those with lived experience.
Researchers across disciplines are identifying actionable patterns in disparate health outcomes while also studying the effects of food insecurity, housing instability, environmental exposures, and healthcare access—especially among structurally disadvantaged populations. Improvers are building connections and co-designing interventions aimed at creating conditions for excellent and equitable health outcomes, safe and supported families, and a pathway to full potential for every child, adolescent, and family. Efforts span the translational spectrum of population health and health equity research—from the defining of context and key questions to innovation at full scale. Our areas of focus range from preventing asthma hospitalizations and ensuring kindergarten readiness to reducing gun violence and promoting flourishing communities.
Recent studies have highlighted the impact of housing code violations, third-hand smoke, air pollution, and red tape in nutrition assistance programs on health and development. Others have demonstrated how parent-led solutions, school-based interventions, and tailored outreach can strengthen patient care and populational care management, better meeting families where they are. Team members have also contributed to learning networks actively seeking solutions to some of society’s most difficult problems.
Explore how Cincinnati Children’s is advancing the science of population health and health equity to create lasting, systemic change.
