Health Equity Research: A Bench-to-Bedside Approach (2025)-WEB3222-2025

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar convened experts to discuss approaches to health equity research in radiology, spanning biology, epidemiology, communication, and implementation science. Dr. Ruth Carlos highlighted the biological impacts of structural racism and social determinants on cancer, emphasizing that race is a flawed genetic proxy and that chronic stress from racism affects cancer development through physiological and epigenomic mechanisms. She stressed integrating social context and genomics into risk models to improve equitable cancer care.<br /><br />Dr. Anand Narayan focused on research tools to address imaging care disparities, advocating for the use of publicly available large datasets to enhance minority representation in clinical research. He underscored moving beyond descriptive studies to implementing quality improvement and public health interventions to reduce disparities, citing the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force as a success.<br /><br />Dr. Scott Spoludo described design thinking and implementation science as complementary methods to translate evidence-based practices into real-world, equitable care by centering patient experience and adapting interventions to diverse communities.<br /><br />Dr. Jordan Neal discussed translational cancer communication science, emphasizing tailored digital interventions developed through user-centered design to enhance cancer screening uptake among underserved populations. He pointed out the complexity of communication beyond linear models and the importance of cutting through structural and social “noise.”<br /><br />Panelists agreed on the value of community engagement throughout research—from design to dissemination—with a focus on shifting power to communities to ensure research relevance and trust. They advised researchers to seek collaboration, integrate clinical operations early, use appropriate theoretical frameworks and data sources, and commit long-term to health equity work rather than performative efforts. Overall, the session emphasized multidisciplinary, community-engaged, and biologically informed research approaches to advance equitable radiology care.

Keywords

health equity

radiology research

structural racism

social determinants of health

cancer disparities

implementation science

community engagement

translational communication

design thinking