History of HDI
UConn Health's Health Disparities Institute (HDI), established in 2011, Co-founded by Salome Raheim, Ph.D., ASCW, Dean Emeritus at the UConn School of Social Work and Judith Fifield, Ph.D., former Professor of Family Medicine at the UConn School of Medicine. HDI originated from a bioscience legislative mandate to enhance biomedical research and care delivery to minority and medically underserved populations in Connecticut. UConn Health operationalized the mandate through a redesign of the Ethel Donaghue Center for Translating Research into Practice and Policy (TRIPP) to become the first Type II Center at UConn Health focused exclusively on reducing health disparities in Connecticut. On average, Connecticut residents have some of the highest per capita income and education levels among resident of any other state in the nation. Despite these indicators of wealth and progress, large health inequities are persistently found in Connecticut.
Opening its office in Downtown Hartford in 2017, HDI positioned itself directly within the community it serves. Under the leadership of Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez since 2023, HDI has continued its mission to address health disparities and advance health equity. As a dynamic center for community engagement, research, and advocacy, HDI produces evidence-for-action and implements strategies to eliminate health disparities. The institute is dedicated to influencing system changes that eliminate racial inequity in health and enhance economic opportunities for Connecticut.
The opening of the Health Disparities Institute on Main Street in Hartford, CT.
Dr. Linda Sprague-Martinez appointed as the director of the Health Disparities Institute.
HDI set its goal to become a leader in promoting health equity and university-community partnerships to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities in Connecticut. Through university-community partnerships in the areas of research, information dissemination, outreach, and policy to focus efforts throughout Connecticut.
HDI's notable projects include the CT Health Equity Report Card, which evaluates health equity among Boys and Men of Color, and the Health Insurance Advance (HIA) initiative, which aims to improve health insurance literacy among minority populations. HDI has also conducted research on radical healing for racial injustice and promoted racial justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The institute's efforts during the pandemic involved strategic approaches to support policy action, change public narratives, deepen community engagement, and enhance health equity research and innovation. These initiatives demonstrate HDI's commitment to advancing health equity and addressing systemic health disparities in Connecticut.