CARLOS T. CARTER
Each month, these pages focus on health topics and disparities in health that are especially relevant for Black/African American people. The 2023 series of the New Pittsburgh Courier, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, UPMC Center for Equity and Inclusion, and University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) will focus on social determinants of health, also known as social and structural influences on health. To help us introduce this topic, we invited Drs. Conti and Bui to give their input.
Why will this series focus on social determinants of health?
I have had the privilege of leading the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh for the past year. During this time, I have come to appreciate — even more deeply — the history of the Urban League and how critical this organization is in supporting economic justice and opportunities for our Black community members. The Urban League assists with housing, food security, employment opportunities, and education, all of which have a profound impact on our health and well-being.
What do you hope that community members will learn from these health pages?
The Urban League’s collaboration with the New Pittsburgh Courier, UPMC Center for Equity and Inclusion, and CTSI is over a decade old now. Through this collaboration, we hope that these monthly pages help our community members gain knowledge and increase their understanding of how health inequities are rooted in policies and practices.
By better recognizing the social determinants of health, we can all see the critical roles we play together to strengthen the social fabric of our communities and to promote health equity for all.
Carlos T. Carter is President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
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