Center for Health Equity News

BCHS Assistant Professor Jason Deakings

Deakings honored as Distinguished Research Alumnus, joins Fab 40 Under 40

Jason Deakings, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences and associate director of the Center for Health Equity, recently received separate honors highlighting his research accomplishments. He was named to the 2026 New Pittsburgh Courier’s “Fab 40 under 40” list and, on behalf of Meharry Medical College, chosen as a Distinguished Research Alumnus. 
Theresa Chapple-McGruder, associate professor of health policy and management

Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health adds graduate certificate program

Graduate students interested in maternal and child health (MCH) can now add another credential to their resume. The University has approved a graduate certificate program in MCH. Supported by the Center for Health Equity, the 15-credit MCH certificate will prepare students to lead efforts to advance the health and equity of women, children and families.
Professor of Epidemiology Tiffany Gary-Webb

Data Justice for Pittsburgh's Black Neighborhoods honored as a partnership of distinction

Data Justice for Pittsburgh’s Black Neighborhoods was honored as a 2025 Partnership of Distinction at Pitt’s Community Engaged Scholarship Forum on March 3. The organization’s Data Justice Working Group is co-led by Tiffany Gary-Webb, professor of epidemiology and associate director of the Center for Health Equity at Pitt Public Health, and Bob Gradeck of Pitt’s University Center for Urban and Social Research.

Reproductive injustice panel traces roots of modern reproductive and immigration policies

The Center for Health Equity and Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health hosted a virtual panel on reproductive justice on January 21. Panelists discussed how recent challenges to reproductive care, immigration and birthright citizenship reflect the discriminatory treatment of several marginalized groups throughout history.
Pitt Public Health faculty member Tiffany Gary-Webb

9 Pitt affiliates were named New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence

Tiffany Gary-Webb, associate professor of epidemiology and associate director of the Center for Health Equity, was one of nine Pitt leaders and affiliates have been recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier as Women of Excellence for their professional achievements and contributions to the Greater Pittsburgh community.
Students in classroom

New Pitt classes and programs launch in fall 2025

Pitt Public Health is offering new courses for fall 2025, including a Disaster Preparedness Certificate and a course in AI in Health Data Science, as well as training opportunities through the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health.
Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb receives equity trailblazer award from the American Diabetes Association

Tiffany Gary-Webb receives inaugural Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs Health Equity Trailblazer in Diabetes Award

The American Diabetes Association presented the inaugural Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs Health Equity Trailblazer in Diabetes Award to Epidemiology's Tiffany Gary-Webb.
Theresa Chapple

New center and training program prepare future leaders in maternal and child health

A new Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice is launching at Pitt Public Health—with a mission to train the next generation of public health leaders committed to improving outcomes for birthing people, children and families.
Dara Mendez

Intersections: Local laws aid black moms

Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity, Dara D. Méndez joins KDKA to discuss local efforts to help black moms give healthy births.
Dara D. Méndez

Dara Méndez was honored by Pittsburgh’s Professional Women’s Network

Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity, Dara D. Méndez, has won the Ladies Who Lead Award from Pittsburgh’s Professional Women’s Network.
Jaia Gallegos

Jaia Gallegos Named 2024 Winner of Bernard D. Goldstein Student Award

Jaia Gallegos has been recognized as the 2024 recipient of the Bernard D. Goldstein Student Award in Environmental Health Disparities and Public Health Practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.
brain illustration

Encouraging early intervention for Alzheimer’s in the Black community through an innovative interdisciplinary approach

“I’m a huge proponent of ensuring that the work that we do is grounded in community experience, lived experience and voice,” Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity Dara Méndez said.
The nine-member Board of Health

Transparency and equity on minds of Allegheny County’s almost entirely new health board members

While serving on the board, Dara Mendéz, associate professor of epidemiology and associate director of the Center for Health Equity will “ensure” that people who “have been historically and contemporarily excluded … are centered in our decision making and processes.”
children painting at a park

Milwaukee’s approach: How officials and advocates want to address racism as a public health crisis

“If we’re not going to name racism in the first place, then we’re not going to start to develop solutions to address it,” said Dara Méndez, associate professor of epidemiology and associate director of the Center for Health Equity.
mother and child

Study: Racism and sexism keeps Black moms from losing pregnancy weight

The finding flies in the face of a culture of “individual responsibility” around maternal health, said Dara Méndez, associate professor of epidemiology and associate director of the Center for Health Equity.