December 22, 2020

Immigrants in the United States make up 13.7 percent of the population and their numbers are projected to grow in the coming years. Andrea Eleazar, public health ‘23, was awarded a $1,500 Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Mini-Grant from Drexel University to study the heterogeneity or diverse elements in health outcomes among immigrants in the United States. The majority of studies use broad terms when describing immigrant populations and treat different groups as similar, ignoring their diverse and expansive characteristics. This research project will take place at the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative with her mentors Usama Bilal, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, and Mariana Lazo, MD, PhD, ScM, associate research professor. 

The project will seek to examine health outcomes and the heterogeneity of the association of social determinants of health and health outcomes and mortality by immigrant status and within immigrant populations. Understanding the diverse needs of the immigrant population and their subpopulations may help in ensuring equitable healthcare access and delivery. The  goal of the project is to characterize, analyze, and communicate the US immigrant population’s heterogeneous nature to inform future public health interventions.