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Understanding and Addressing Health Disparities in Wisconsin

Building systems to measure, monitor, and identify solutions to reduce health disparities in Wisconsin

Full Project Name:Understanding and Addressing Health Disparities in Wisconsin through Statewide PartnershipsPrincipal Investigator:Joan M. Neuner, MD, MPH, MedicineCo-Investigator(s):Kathryn E. Flynn, PhD, Medicine
Rachel Cusatis PhD, Medicine
Kirsten M. Beyer, Phd, MPH, MS, Institute for Health and Equity
Aaron Winn, PhD, Clinical Sciences
Award Amount:$1,500,000
Award Date
July2021
Project Duration:48 months

Project Summary:


Although Wisconsin has led the way nationally in improving health care quality, there are widespread disparities in health outcomes and care, ranking Wisconsin among the worst in the nation in premature death related to racial inequality. Many efforts to improve health disproportionately benefit some groups while others are left behind, ultimately worsening disparities.

Reports have continued to show health disparities by race and ethnicity, health insurance, and geography. With inequalities rising, it is critical to continue to measure and understand where health disparities exist, taking into account factors such as unemployment, education, adverse effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, and structural racim, in order to develop targeted interventions to eliminate them.

Through this award, a new statewide partnership will be launched, co-led by researchers in the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health to identify where health disparities exist by building sustainable systems that will measure, monitor, and identify possible solutions to reduce disparities through evidence-based innovations.

Additional project partners: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, Wisconsin Health Information Organization, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

Project Updates:


  • Developed a priority measure report which presented data on blood sugar control, blood pressure control, and colorectal cancer screening before COVID-19 and during the recovery phase highlighting some improvements as well as disparities that have worsened
  • Developed a maternal health report that revealed disparities in health outcomes and access to care providing valuable data to improve pre-pregnancy health and maternal outcomes
  • Conducted a co-design process with rural stakeholders to aid in developing a rural health report
  • Partnered with 14 Wisconsin health systems to begin implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce disparities
  • Continued to build statewide partnerships to develop and amplify research to target disparities, supporting $17 million in funding approved to date

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