Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Urology
The RUPH division is committed to addressing the social determinants of health and disparities that affect urologic outcomes through advocacy and research. We are at the forefront of research focusing on understanding the role that non-medical factors, including socioeconomic status, community, race and ethnicity, and access to basic needs including housing, food, transportation, and clean water and plumbing may play in urologic symptoms and bladder health outcomes.
Dr. Elisabeth Sebesta is actively engaged in this area of research, and her findings have illuminated unique challenges and barriers to care faced by patients, and informed the development of efforts at medical center to help identify and address these disparities. She has published numerous papers on the unmet social needs associated with urologic conditions, including overactive bladder and incontinence. She receives funding from the Vanderbilt Center for Health Services Research for her investigation on rurality and urinary incontinence in women. She also serves on the VUMC Social Drivers of Health Committee which is committed to process design and efforts to improve patient care and address health inequities within the medical center. Through this research, the RUPH group is working towards the goal of improving health equity and ensuring all patients receive the best possible urologic care.
Research in SDOH
