Population health looks beyond the treatment of individual patients to understand the community, regional and system-level forces shaping health outcomes. That includes inequities driven by race, socioeconomic status, geography, and structural barriers that influence how people live, work, and access care. Chronic disease burdens remain high and social determinants continue to impact wellbeing across Western New York, but the Jacobs School is stepping forward with research, community partnerships, and equity-centered interventions that don’t just treat illness — they transform systems.

In this episode, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, welcomes two guests who are leading this work nationally and here at UB, helping define the future of population health in our region: Leonard E. Egede, MD, and Rebekah J. Walker, PhD.