Overview
At the broadest level, the goals for this cluster are to improve population health in the community, state, region, nation, and world by identifying, understanding, and addressing health needs and health disparities. A special focus of the cluster is on the disadvantaged segments of these populations, which are often underserved by existing health care systems due to historically unequal treatment or injustice.
To accomplish these goals, research scientists within the Health Disparities cluster form multidisciplinary collaborative research teams and partnerships to devise highly competitive research proposals aimed at identifying, understanding, and remediating health disparities in the general population of Alabama, the larger Southeastern Region, the Nation, and ultimately the world beyond national boundaries. Membership in this cluster is diverse and research interests of faculty scientists in the cluster range from areas of biomedicine, including obesity, diabetes, dementia, developmental disabilities, and cancer to socio-ecological factors that influence health and health-related behavioral decisions, including environmental toxins, dietary and exercise choices, income levels and accessibility to available services related to somatic and mental health, and attitudes concerning preferred body sizes and satisfaction with body size. The health disparities cluster also is committed to dissemination and translation of research discoveries to the widest range of potential audiences. These audiences include the relevant scientific communities, clinical professionals who act directly to maintain and promote public health, policy makers, the participants in research studies, and the public at large. Through dissemination and translation, the cluster members affect science, policy, and practices related to health and health disparities.
Members of the cluster are also committed to interdisciplinary education and training of undergraduate and graduate students that crosses traditional academic boundaries of colleges, schools, and departments, in order to train a new generation of health disparities scholars and practitioners. This commitment is realized through inclusion of both undergraduate and graduate students in ongoing research, serving as guest lecturers in courses currently being taught at Auburn (e.g., within the public health minor offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine), and development of seminars and courses not currently offered at Auburn University.
Sponsoring Colleges/Schools
The Health Disparities cluster includes members from 10 colleges and schools at Auburn University (College of Agriculture, College of Education, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, College of Human Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, School of Nursing, Harrison School of Pharmacy, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Veterinary Medicine), as well as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
For this initiative the College of Human Sciences, the Harrison School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing, and the College of Liberal Arts served as cluster sponsors by identifying open positions within the unit that would be designated as having a primary research focus on health disparities.
Health Disparities Expertise across Campus
Positions Open:
Human Development and Family Studies: https://aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/1251
Harrison School of Pharmacy: https://aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/1298
Psychology: https://aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/1324
Contact Information
Brian E. Vaughn, Ph.D.
Acting Chair of the Health Disparities cluster steering committee
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
203 Spidle Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849
(334) 844-3235
vaughbe@auburn.edu
Last Updated: October 17, 2016
