Written by Kate Litton, BSPH Candidate in Public Health and Political Economy at Tulane University; and the Colonel Carroll A. Ockert Scholar in the Institute for Public Health Summer Research Program
Growing up in Houston and going to school in New Orleans, I did not think that it was possible for another big city to capture my attention. Rolling into St. Louis on an early June morning, though, I immediately noticed some resemblances between this Midwestern metropolis and the two Southern cities that I am lucky enough to call home. Despite the 12-hour drive, the vibrant murals, plethora of restaurants, lively music, and bustling medical campus made me feel like I hadn’t traveled too far. Now that I have settled into my role as a scholar in the Summer Research Program – Public and Global Health Track, I have realized my eyes have been opened to the world of clinical research and to exploring the city of St. Louis. I’ve gained a new perspective on health inequities present everywhere, but especially pronounced in our big cities.
Lectures and literature throughout the summer research program have focused on health disparities specific to St. Louis and have illustrated the need for policy and public health initiatives that address these inequities. For the Sake of All, a 2014 report on the health of African Americans living in St. Louis, found that a child born in the Jeff VanderLou zip code of St. Louis City can expect to live to the age of 67 while a child born in Clayton in St. Louis County can expect to live to 85. This 18-year gap in life expectancy is observed in zip codes that are less than 10 miles apart. As the report notes, though, “ZIP codes are relatively meaningless without the context provided by the composition of the population in them.”
Racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged populations are more highly concentrated in areas of St. Louis that have lower life expectancies and worse health outcomes. Residential segregation and racism are major drivers of this pattern, with the Delmar Divide being a stark example.
Under the mentorship of Kelly Harris, PhD, I have been able to learn more about some of the specific health issues facing St. Louis. My research in the Health Equity, Opportunity, and Education Lab has primarily focused on the effects of pediatric asthma on health outcomes and life opportunities, the unequal burden of this disease on racial minorities and those living in poverty, and the effectiveness of home assessments and environmental interventions in mitigating asthma triggers and symptoms.
Outside of the lab, I’ve seen a performance of Shakespeare in the Park, visited the art and history museums, taken a trip to Soulard Farmers Market, and even caught a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. I cannot wait to see what else this program has in store for me, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, and experience a new city.
This work was generously supported by Colonel Carroll A. Ockert and Genevieve Ockert.