Community Health Equity Research Institute

2025 Igniting Hope Conference

The 8th Annual Igniting Hope Conference was held in September with a goal of building a Health Equity Plan for WNY

2024 Igniting Hope Conference

The 7th annual Igniting Hope Conference focused on environmental justice as it relates to social determinants of health.

2023 Igniting Hope Conference

5/28/25

The sixth annual Igniting hope conference brought together community members, UB students, faculty and staff.

Community Health Equity Pilot Studies Program

2/6/25

Attention junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows, see pilot study opportunity in health disparities and social determinants of health research for $50,000-$100,000

How We Change the Black East Side

1/3/24

Redefining Urban Health: Transforming Buffalo's East Side

2022 Igniting Hope Conference

2/6/23

Watch the 2022 Igniting Hope Conference that brought together over 250 people to address health equity and social determinats of health.

Second Annual Research Day

2/6/23

Learn more about our second annual research day. A special thanks to our keynote speaker and Buffalo native Robert Gore, MD.

Now is the the Time for Bold Initiatives

6/3/22

As our community continues to mourn the loss of those who tragically lost their lives on May 14th, 2022, at Tops Supermarket. We ask that you take this time to think about what your role, responsibility and commitment is as a change agent. What we are called to do individually and collectively, because our community needs us now more than ever.

Welcome to the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute website

3/22/21

Here, you will find information, resources, and news about the crisis of race-based health disparities in Buffalo.

The UB Community Health Equity Research Institute was created with a goal to perform research to advance understanding of the root causes and to develop and test innovative solutions to eliminate health inequities in the region.

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Buffalo HealthCast

A health equity podcast developed by students, faculty and staff of the School of Public Health and Health Professions.

News and Events

County Health Rankings Show WNY Remains Unhealthiest State Region
5/19/22
Poor health outcomes flow directly from adverse social determinants of health including poverty, and access to education, employment, transportation, safe neighborhoods, affordable childcare and others..
“Instead of framing health outcome questions around matters of ‘personal choice,’ it’s more reasonable to note that there are marginalized and vulnerable people in our community that are faced with few positive choices,” said Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County health commissioner.
The Words “Return to Normal” Refer to a Reality That No Longer Exists
5/19/22
Thinking about communities where for decades their health was degraded by entrenched medical racism, environmental injustice, and systemic inequality.
Redesigning the Kensington 33 Expressway
5/11/22
One billion dollars has been set aside in the New York State budget to redesign the Kensington Expressway. Leaders referred to it as a “transformational” investment that would reconnect a neighborhood on the eastside of Buffalo severed by the highway for more than 60 years.

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Social Determinants of Health in Buffalo

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Poverty
3/22/21
37% of Blacks in Poverty vs 19% of Whites
Educational Opportunity
3/22/21
14% of Blacks Have Bachelor Degrees vs 36% of Whites
High Unemployment
3/22/21
15% Rate Among Blacks, 5% Among Whites in Buffalo
Low Property Values/Poor Housing Stock
3/22/21
Home Values $48K in Black Neighborhoods vs $138K in White
Access to Healthy Food
3/22/21
Only One Grocery Store on Buffalo's East Side
Access to Healthcare
3/22/21
Up to 6% lack health insurance and 50% receive Medicaid.
Disinvested Neighborhoods
3/22/21
48% vacancy rate in Black neighborhoods vs 12% in White
Criminal justice system
3/22/21
Arrests of Blacks five times greater than for Whites
Access to Public Transportation
3/22/21
42% of East Side families own a car
Lead contamination in homes
3/22/21
90% of housing is pre-1978 when lead paint was banned
Access to Recreational Facilities
3/22/21
Limited access to recreational facilities
Internet access
3/22/21
Many East and West Side homes lack internet access