Population health looks beyond the treatment of individual patients to understand the community, regional and system-level forces shaping health outcomes. That includes inequities driven by race, socioeconomic status, geography, and structural barriers that influence how people live, work, and access care. Chronic disease burdens remain high and social determinants continue to impact wellbeing across Western New York, but the Jacobs School is stepping forward with research, community partnerships, and equity-centered interventions that don’t just treat illness — they transform systems.

In this episode, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA welcomes two guests who are leading this work nationally and here at UB, helping define the future of population health in our region.

Leonard E. Egede, MD, is a nationally recognized expert in health disparities and chronic disease outcomes,  and Charles and Mary Bauer Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the Jacobs School.

Rebekah J. Walker, PhD, is chief of the Division of Population Health, whose research focuses on social determinants of health, structural barriers such as food insecurity, patient engagement, and equity-centered approaches to chronic disease management.