Diseases Commons^™

Hemidiaphragmatic Segmental Zoster Paresis, Terrence Sanvictores, Johnson Ukken

School of Medicine Faculty Research

The reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus within infected neurons can lead to common clinical manifestations, including rash, acute neuritis, post-herpetic neuralgia, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and Ramsay–Hunt syndrome. Segmental zoster paresis is an unusual neurologic complication of shingles that is defined by focal asymmetric motor weakness in the myotome corresponding to skin lesions of the dermatome. This case is a presentation of a patient who developed chronic hypoxia and severe atelectasis attributed to right-sided phrenic nerve paralysis secondary to herpes zoster infection.

Airborne Fungal Monitoring In Healthcare Environments: A Systematic Review, Dana L. Surwill, Patricia Cruz, Mark P. Buttner, Jennifer R. Pharr, Nancy Lough, Theresa T. Roehr

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background: Fungal infections pose a significant threat to public health, with over 6.55 million cases and 2.55 million deaths annually. Exposure to fungal spores in indoor environments primarily occurs through inhalation or direct contact with surfaces. Monitoring is critical for early detection and prevention of outbreaks, yet routine airborne fungal testing is not universally mandated across healthcare settings. Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles from four databases was conducted to identify current airborne fungal monitoring guidelines and best practices for sample collection, culture media, incubation conditions, and results interpretation. Results: Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria, and four studies …

Does What Happens In Vegas Increase Pedestrian Safety? A Longitudinal Study On The Effectiveness Of Pedestrian Bridges, Jalen Paulos, Joaquin Miguel Del Mundo, Brock Wentz, Janel Pietryga

Department of Orthopaedics Faculty Research

Urban populations continue to rise and the frequency that pedestrians are exposed to vehicular traffic continues to increase. The result is an increase in automobile versus pedestrian collisions. This study aims to determine the efficacy of pedestrian bridges in reducing the rates of automobile‒pedestrian collisions. Data for all automobile versus pedestrian collisions and injuries from July 1997 through December 2023 at four distinct intersections along Las Vegas Boulevard were retrieved from the Nevada Department of Transportation. These sites were chosen because of their historically high rates of automobile versus pedestrian incidents and the construction of pedestrian bridges at three of …

Phytic Acid (Insp6) Activates Hdac3 Epigenetic Axis To Maintain Intestinal Barrier Function, Sujan Chatterjee, Zachery Sin, Nguyen Tran, Loretta Vierra, Anuj Shukla, Tam Tran, George Koshkaryan, Kevin Ritter, Xue Bessie Sue, Saharat Jolak Ragsac, Seungman Park, Qian Liu, Richard Van, Katherine Huang, Kayci Huff-Hardy, Richard Rood, Anas Gremida, Martin Gregory, Chien-Huan Chen, Mira V. Han, Parakkal Deepak, Adikfi Saiardi, Henning J. Jensen, Prasun Guha

Life Sciences Faculty Research

HDAC inhibition shows promise in cancer treatment but pan-HDAC inhibitors cause gastrointestinal issues in 48% of patients. Understanding HDAC activation mechanisms is crucial to treating diverse diseases beyond cancer. Our study reveals that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) and inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6 or phytic acid), enriched in vegan diets, play essential roles in activating the HDAC3 epigenetic axis and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity. IPMK binds to HDAC3 and drives InsP6 synthesis, which selectively activates HDAC3 at a 10 nM concentration by recruiting the DAD domain of its corepressor protein. IPMK deletion diminishes HDAC3 activation, leading to histone hyperacetylation and MMP gene …

Effect Of Neuroinflammation On Exploratory Behavior In Mice, Gage Pompa, Ariana Mitic, Yader Gomez, Lilian Hagos, Orlando Montiel

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Introduction: Mice have been observed in both laboratory and field settings to exhibit a tendency to remain near corners and walls. This trait is known as positive thigmotaxis. Thigmotaxis has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior and used extensively as an anxiety index in mice. Although this characteristic has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior, thigmotaxis has been extensively studied in rectangular and circular environments. However, there is a notable lack of understanding of how alternative geometric configurations can influence this behavior.

Methods and Approach: Using a grid overlaid on the environment the mice …

Use Of Calcium Modification In Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Comprehensive Review, Noyan Ramazani, Ala W. Abdallah, Michael V. Dicaro, Divyansh Sharma, Aditi Singh, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in both situations of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable coronary syndrome. It significantly increases the risk of procedural complications due to difficulty in equipment delivery, balloon expansion, and stent delivery. Furthermore, stent thrombosis, dissection, perforation, and future in-stent restenosis occur more frequently in calcified coronary lesions, impacting repeat target vessel revascularization and increasing the risk of future MI. With intracoronary imaging (intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography), peri-procedural success for treating calcified lesions has increased significantly. Different modalities of calcium modification techniques have since been introduced. This review …

Bradycardia Associated With Remdesivir Treatment In Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis, Salman Mohammed, Justin Bauzon, Kavita Batra, Celina Cosome, Kim Inciong, Elli Tian, Fadi Azar, Kevin Lee, Nazanin Houshmand, Uyen Pham, Ariyon Schreiber, Aditi Singh

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. The therapeutic benefits of remdesivir remain under investigation, with further literature emerging regarding its cardiac side-effect profile. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of remdesivir with bradycardia using a propensity score-matched analysis. Secondary outcomes included assessing in-patient mortality and hospital length of stay following remdesivir treatment for COVID-19. A single-institution retrospective study investigating treatment with and without remdesivir in 645 patients admitted for COVID-19 management was performed. Following treatment with remdesivir, patients were analyzed for episodes of bradycardia, defined in this study as 2 consecutive …

Molecular Mechanisms Of L-Type Calcium Channel Dysregulation In Heart Failure, Arbab Khalid, Abu-Bakr Ahmed, Randeep Gill, Taha Shaikh, Joshua Khorsandi, Ali Kia

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

The L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) function as the main entry points that convert myocyte membrane depolarization into calcium transients, which drive every heartbeat. There is increasing evidence to show that maladaptive remodeling of these channels is the cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Recent experimental, translational, and clinical studies have improved our understanding of the roles LTCC expression, micro-domain trafficking, and post-translational control have in disrupting excitation–contraction coupling, provoking arrhythmias, and shaping phenotype specific hemodynamic compromise. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases (2015–2025, …

Contribution Of Various Factors On The Rate Of Traffic Accidents In The Us, Martin Mnatsakanyan

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Background:

Until 2020, the number of traffic accidents has been steadily decreasing. After 2020, the number started increasing until 2022, then started s lowly decreasing again. Most drivers aren’t fully aware of the reason behind all of these accidents.

Leukemia And Thyroid Cancer In Relation To Reca Boundaries, Cora Marinos

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A total of 1,054 test were conducted by the United States between 1945 and 1992. This is more Atomic tests than all other countries combined. Of those tests 928 were conducted at the Nevada Test Site located 65 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada.

These tests spread nuclear fallout throughout the United States causing the people in nearby communities to become sick. The public outcry spurred the passing of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in 1990 (RECA) It’s scope of coverage was broaded in 2000. Despite many groups fighting for further expansion, the Act expired in June of 2024.

Of the …

Epigenetic Regulation And Tumor Suppressive Function Of Lncrna Ep300-As1 In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Through Activation Of Tfap2c Binding To Cst6: Implications For Diagnosis, Prognosis, And Therapy, Chengliang Xing, Shun Ding, Tingting Duan, Zhiqun Li, Jinren Yan, Yu Kuang, Qibing Liu, Zhonglin Mu

Integrated Health Sciences Faculty Research

The long non-coding RNA EP300-AS1 (lncRNA EP300-AS1), identified as a potential regulatory factor in various cancers, remains underexplored in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study investigated EP300-AS1’s regulatory mechanisms in NPC, particularly its interaction with transcription factor AP-2 Gamma (TFAP2C) and its effect on cystatin E/M (CST6) expression. Employing clinical samples and NPC cell lines, we conducted in vitro and in vivo xenograft experiments to assess the impacts of modulating EP300-AS1 expression. Techniques such as CCK8, migration, scratch, apoptosis assays, cell cycle analysis, immunoblotting, and fluorescence experiments elucidated EP300-AS1’s role in NPC. The interaction between EP300-AS1 and TFAP2C in regulating CST6 …

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A Comprehensive Review, Taha Shaikh, Darren Nguyen, Jasmine Dugal, Michael Dicaro, Brianna Yee, Nazanin Houshmand, Kachon Lei, Ali Namazi

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is characterized by structural abnormalities, arrhythmias, and a spectrum of genetic and clinical manifestations. Clinically, ARVC is structurally distinguished by right ventricular dilation due to increased adiposity and fibrosis in the ventricular walls, and it manifests as cardiac arrhythmias ranging from non-sustained ventricular tachycardia to sudden cardiac death. Its prevalence has been estimated to range from 1 in every 1000 to 5000 people, with its large range being attributed to the variability in genetic penetrance from asymptomatic to significant burden. It is even suggested that the prevalence is underestimated, as the presence of genotypic mutations …

Atherosclerosis: A Comprehensive Review Of Molecular Factors And Mechanisms, Vasiliki Tasouli-Drakou, Ian Ogurek, Taha Shaikh, Marc Ringor, Michael V. Dicaro, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of lipids and a culprit behind cardiovascular events, has long been studied. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in interest in its initiation, with researchers shifting focus from traditional pathways involving the vascular infiltration of oxidized lipids and towards the novel presence of chronic inflammatory pathways. The accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in combination with the activation of transcription factors, creates a positive feedback loop that drives the creation and progression of atherosclerosis. From the upregulation of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the Notch and Wnt pathways to …

Recent Advances In Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Current Treatment And Future Direction, Arasalan Siddiqui, Vasiliki Tasouli-Drakou, Marc Ringor, Micael V. Dicaro, Brianna Yee, Kachon Lei, Tahir Tak

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) has been established as a major component of heart failure management, resulting in a significant reduction in patient morbidity and death for patients with increased QRS duration, low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and high risk of arrhythmias. The ability to synchronize both ventricles, lower heart failure hospitalizations, and optimize clinical outcomes are some of the attractive characteristics of biventricular pacing, or CRT. However, the high rate of CRT non-responders has led to the development of new modalities including leadless CRT pacemakers (CRT-P) and devices focused on conduction system pacing (CSP). This comprehensive review aims to …

Association Between Polygenic Scores For Brain Structure And Alzheimer's Disease, Eunjae Lee, Faria Tavacoli, Tingwei Liu, Brittany Diaz Ruiz, Hayley Ho, Alice Lee, Jingchun Chen

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition and the most common type of dementia. Research has shown that volumetric changes in subcortical brain structures, which make up roughly 25% of the brain's total volume and affect many physiological functions. This research project aims to investigate the genetic association between brain structures and AD. GWAS data of eight different brain structures (ICV, accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) were used to create polygenic scores (PGSs) in a discovery (cases/controls = 2,651/2,768) and replication dataset (cases/controls = 553/644). We utilized PRSice-2 software to generate PGSs and assess genetic correlations …

Temporal Variations In And Predictive Values Of Abg Results Prior To In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Mina Attin, Jie Rin, Chad Cross, Sidath Kapukotuwa, Ryan Shao, Peter G. Kaufmann, C.D. (Joey) Lin, Kim Arcoleo

Nursing Faculty Research

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has been understudied relative to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Further, studies of IHCA have mainly focused on a limited number of pre-arrest patient characteristics (e.g., demographics, number and types of comorbidities). Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, one of the most common diagnostic tests for assessing and managing critically or acutely ill hospitalized patients, reflects pathophysiological changes associated with adverse events or complications, including IHCA. Yet the predictive and prognostic values of patterns of pre-arrest ABG parameters for IHCA have not been fully studied. The purpose of this retrospective pilot cohort study was to investigate temporal variations in …

The Association Of Dietary Micronutrient Intake And Systemic Inflammation Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kenneth Izuora, Amalie Alver, Arpita Basu, Kavita Batra, Shelly J. Williams, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study sought to document how the systemic biomarkers of inflammation varied based on food choices among patients with T2DM. This cross-sectional study enrolled ambulatory patients with T2DM. Demographic and clinical information was collected. Five drops of fingerstick blood were collected using an absorbent paper device (HemaSpot HFR). C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and fibrinogen were measured using a Luminex assay. Patient-generated 7-day food diaries were analyzed using a validated food processor software. Data were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation tests, linear regression and logistic regression with the …

Comparing Virtual Reality Vs. Augmented Reality In Promoting Covid-19 Self-Testing, Vaccination, And Preventive Behaviors, Zhan Xu, Lisa Dam

Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies Faculty Research

Objective: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are innovative technologies that can serve as effective tools for creating health interventions by altering psychological distance. Based on construal level theory and the reality-virtuality continuum, we designed, tested, and compared VR and AR campaigns to encourage proactive measures against COVID-19. Methods: 143 participants were randomly assigned to one of three messages: VR, AR, and a CDC video, and completed surveys before, immediately, and one week following message exposure. Results: VR and AR increased preventive intentions and behaviors against COVID-19 both in the short and long run. VR was particularly effective as …

The Associations Of Cardiometabolic And Dietary Variables With Clinical Periodontitis In Adults With And Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Arpita Basu, Leigh Ann Richardson, Alicia Carlos, Neamat Hassan Abubakr, Robin L. Weltmann, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Periodontitis is a commonly occurring inflammatory oral disease affecting a large proportion of global and US adults and is characterized by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Its etiology is multifactorial, and type 2 diabetes and diet play critical roles in its remission and progression. However, few studies have addressed nutritional and serum vitamin D status in adults with periodontitis in the presence of diabetes. A cross-sectional study (n = 78), and a sub-set of age- and BMI-matched case–control studies (n = 50), were conducted to examine differences in dietary and cardiometabolic variables, and serum vitamin D in adults with …

A Timeline Of Klinefelter’S Syndrome, Xxy, Emma Chevalier, Tyler Venegas, Mary Salibi

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is a non-mendelian chromosomal disorder consisting of supernumerary X chromosomes in males, 80% of which manifest as the 47,XXY karyotype. The resulting gene dosage abnormalities affect both cognitive and physical development, with variable expressivity. The disease was first described by Harry Klinefelter in 1942 and was thought to be an endocrine disorder until the late 1950s, when karyotyping of affected individuals revealed an extra X chromosome.

(It is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy (1:500 males) and the most common cause of azoospermia. The phenotype for KS is highly contested due to its extremely variable expressivity and …

Comparing Measures Of Discourse Deficits In Individuals With Tbi And Cva, Amanda Carper, André Lindsey

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), otherwise known as strokes, can both result in discourse deficits. The present study compares the narrative discourse of individuals with CVA to individuals with TBI. This study aims to (1) determine potential diagnostic differences and (2) identify any consistent symptoms that may best guide treatment.

Injury Inequity Among Nevada Pedestrians: Assessment Using Measurements Of Community Needs, Merika Charupoom, Nicole Bacani, Emily Carter, Emily Strickler, Laura K. Gryder, Kavita Batra, Deborah A. Kuhls Md, Facs

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Nevada was the 10th highest ranking in pedestrian fatality rates. According to a report by Zero Fatalities, in 2021, there were 84 pedestrian deaths. Underserved communities, the elderly, and low income individuals are more likely to use walking, biking, or public transportation as a primary means of transportation due to vehicle expenses. Older adults, racial/ethnic minorities and those with lower socioeconomic statuses (SES) may bear a disproportionate burden of auto-pedestrian crashes.

Promoting Mammography Screenings In African American Women: Media, Church, And Health Providers, Lasonya Little, Debra C. Wallace, K.Jay Poole

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Due to the underutilization of screening mammography, African American women (AAW) are more likely to experience negative health outcomes after receiving a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than White Women (WW). The purpose of this article is to examine the roles of the media, health community and the African American church and pastor and their potential impact in AAW screening decisions. Fifteen AAW, ages 45 and older, were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Most women agreed the African American pastor and church as well as the health community, and media are an integral part of their lives. Therefore, specific …

Covid-19 Severity Among American Indians And Alaska Natives In 16 States - January 1, 2020, To March 31, 2021, Jessica Arrazola, Scott Erickson, Chiao Wen Lan, Adrian Dominguez, Sujata Joshi, Andria Apostolou, Ashley Busacker, David Casey, Christiana Coyle, Kathryn Helfrich, Jennifer Kraszewski, Thomas Kim, Genelle Lamont, Richard Leman, Pamela Lemaster, Nick Lehnertz, Mike Mannell, Dakota Matson, Alex Merrill, Tracy Miller, Benjamin Schram, Ozair Naqvi, Samantha Rice, Samantha Hyde-Rolland, Alyssa Rowell, Dean Seneca, Victoria Warren-Mears, Laura Williamson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: To compare rates and risk factors of severe COVID-19-related outcomes between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White people (NHW).

Methods: Aggregate Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), COVID-19-related risk factor, hospitalization, and mortality data were obtained from 16 states for January 1, 2020-March 31, 2021. Generalized estimating equation Poisson regression models calculated age-adjusted cumulative incidences, incidence ratios (IR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing AI/AN and NHW persons by age, sex, and county-level SVI status.

Results: Race data were missing for 42.7% of COVID-19 cases, 24.7% of hospitalizations, and 10.1% of deaths. Risk of AI/AN COVID-19 mortality …

Mechanical Circulatory Support Versus Vasopressors Alone In Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction And Cardiogenic Shock Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Awad I. Javid, Joel E. Michalek, Aleksandra B. Gruslova, Serene A. Hoskins, Chowdhury H. Ahsan, Marc D. Feldman

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Background: Previous studies have compared Impella use to intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our objective was to compare clinical outcomes in patients with AMI-CS undergoing PCI who received Impella (percutaneous left ventricular assist device) without vasopressors, IABP without vasopressors, and vasopressors without mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) using ICD-10 codes (2015-2018) to identify patients with AMI-CS undergoing PCI. We created three propensity-matched cohorts to examine clinical outcomes in patients receiving Impella versus IABP, Impella versus vasopressors without MCS, …

Global, Regional, And National Incidence Of Six Majorimmune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Findings From Theglobal Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Kavita Batra, Manoj Sharma, Asma Tahir Awan, Numerous Authors, See List Below

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Background: The causes for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are diverse and the incidence trends of IMIDs from specific causes are rarely studied. The study aims to investigate the pattern and trend of IMIDs from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: We collected detailed information on six major causes of IMIDs, including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis, between 1990 and 2019, derived from the Global Burden of Disease study in 2019. The average annual percent change (AAPC) in number of incidents and age standardized incidence rate (ASR) on IMIDs, by sex, age, region, and causes, were …

Building A Community-Academic Partnership To Improve Underrepresented Group Awareness Of Parkinson’S Disease And Research, Danielle N. Larson, Jennifer Adrissi, Madison Lyleroehr, Emily Zivin, Karen Williams, Tanya Simuni

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

BACKGROUND: Members of underrepresented groups (URGs) are more likely to have delays in PD diagnosis and less likely to receive specialized care when compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians. URGs are not proportionately represented in PD clinical research. Barriers to optimal diagnosis and treatment and research participation are multifaceted but include insufficient community knowledge of PD and research.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a community-academic partnership (CAP) for increasing knowledge of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and research opportunities in underrepresented Chicago communities. Here, we describe the development, structure, and outcomes of this pilot program.

METHODS: The Chicago Movement Coalition (CMC) was established with academic leaders …

Socioeconomic Disparities Exist In Access To Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery, Justin Solarczyk, Heather Roberts Md, Stephanie Wong Md, Derek Ward Md

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: The relationship of socioeconomic disparity in access to rotator cuff repair (RCR) has not been well studied. Socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic disparities in access to surgical management of rotator cuff tears have previously been described in patients with commercial insurance. This study is a population-level analysis which investigates racial and ethnic disparities in access to surgical rotator cuff repair across multiple health insurance statuses.

Purpose: (1) Is non-white race and ethnicity associated with lower rates of RCR? (2) Do these associations change throughout different insurance statuses?

Methods: We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database to identify …

Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis Secondary To Gemella With Extensive Complications, Amber Champion

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

A young woman developed thyroid storm secondary to acute suppurative thyroiditis, with Gemella morbillorum bacteremia. Her case was complicated by neck abscess, Lemierre syndrome (septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein), mediastinitis, and pleural effusion. She was treated for thyroid storm including steroids and antibiotics. The infectious complications required several surgical procedures and interventions and a prolonged hospital stay, but she ultimately made a full recovery. Complications from suppurative thyroiditis can be rapid and widespread; swift recognition and treatment by a multidisciplinary team can help to prevent complications.

Advancing Health Equity In The Us Military, James D. Mancuso, John Young, Jennifer Rusiecki, Shauna Stahlman, Natasha Schvey, Toya Randolph, Candy Wilson, Catherine Witkop, Patrick Hyde, Althea Green, Patcho Santiago, Donald Shell, Tracy Sbrocco

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity are central to US national health objectives and the Military Health System’s “quadruple aim,” which has readiness as its core aim. Because military service members enjoy universal eligibility for health care, it is sometimes assumed that health disparities do not exist in the Department of Defense (DoD). However, while some studies have shown that disparities have been attenuated or eliminated in the DoD, others suggest that significant disparities remain. Reasons these disparities may remain include that universal eligibility for care does not necessarily result in equal to access to care, and that equal …