Expressing Health Equity Through Art

Local K-12 students showed the University of Rochester Medical Center what health equity – or the lack of it – looks like to them in a recent art contest held by UR CTSI’s Office of Health Equity Research. The contest was a first step toward building a relationship with the community – a crucial part of the Office’s mission.

“Rochester is among the worst performing cities in New York in terms of health equity,” said Edith Williams, Ph.D., founding director of the Office of Health Equity Research. “Authentic engagement and partnership with the community is critical, especially with those most vulnerable to existing inequities such as children.”

The contest also served as a form of observational health equity research, according to Williams. The students’ artwork, which included paintings, drawings and photographs, offer a glimpse into the students’ experiences, understanding and aspirations for health equity.

“The [art contest] responses are powerful,” said Williams. “Our Office of Health Equity Research is meant to catalyze, guide, and support these types of activities along the translational spectrum of health equity research. We are all members of the community, so as we continue to build our research capabilities, we have to acknowledge every voice with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes in our region.”

Read more in the URMC Newsroom.

Michael Hazard | 12/15/2022