College of Medicine

Assistant Professors Samantha Goldfarb, DrPH, and Megan Deichen Hansen, Ph.D., along with Research Scientist Jessica Day, MPH, Associate Professor Joedrecka Brown-Speights, M.D., and Co-Directors George Rust, M.D., and Jeff Harman, Ph.D. recently published an article in HealthAffairs titled “State Variations In Progress Toward Eliminating Disparities In Infant Mortality, 2007–19.” The study reveals that progress on closing the Black-White infant mortality gap in the U.S. has been slow and inconsistent. From 2008 to 2018, eight states saw the disparity worsen, while 24 states showed some improvement, though no state has come close to achieving equity in Black and White infant mortality rates. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, multilevel efforts to prevent Black infant deaths.