Equity and Health Disparities

In line with our mission, the Health Center at Auraria strives to provide equitable and inclusive medical and mental health services. We are committed to the provision of services that are both racially and culturally sensitive. Our goal is to ensure that we are meeting the specific needs of Auraria’s diverse constituent base and are always open to suggestions that could enhance the Health Center’s ability to meet such needs.  

We acknowledge the history of oppressive and harmful practices that have been utilized to “treat” marginalized and minoritized groups in both the medical and mental health fields.  Examples of these include the Tuskegee study, race-based discrepancies in Schizophrenia diagnosis between white and BIPOC patients and ongoing misinterpretation or dismissal of pain reports from patients of color.  These are only a few examples of factors contributing to marginalized and minoritized communities’ inadequate treatment and access to care, distrust of the medical and mental health system and resulting intergenerational trauma.  

National data documents significant health disparities within marginalized communities.  These disparities may include access to care, prevalence of trauma or higher rates of medical/mental health issues.  The Health Center at Auraria’s professional staff, including our student staff, actively engage in professional development opportunities to educate our team about health inequities and disparities that potentially impact our students, faculty and staff. We are committed to continually improving our understanding of health inequities, so that our team can be part of identifying solutions with and for the campus community.  

Beyond the clinical care that is routinely provided at the Health Center, we are actively working to build relationships and collaborations with departments and organizations, as well as outside professionals, to offer culturally-relevant and timely presentations, programs and educational materials.  These offices, including but not limited to the MSU Denver’s Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion (CMEI), the LGBTQ Resource Center and CU Denver’s Center for Identity and Inclusion (CII) have offered guidance and support for the Health Center to re-evaluate policies, practices and services provided to build a more just, inclusive, equitable and anti-racist system of care.