Our Work

We strive to be creative, critical, collaborative, and transformative in our research and scholarship. We uphold San Francisco State University's mission of honoring roots, stimulating intellectual and personal development, promoting equity, and inspiring the courage to lead, create, and innovate.

The Health Equity Institute accomplishes our work through faculty-led health equity research, the coordination and oversight of research hubs and labs designed to support faculty research, and the explicit training of MA-level students as health equity researchers and scholars.  

Our Labs and Hubs include:

- The Health Equity Student Scholars program 

- The Science, Technology, and Society Research Hub

- The NeuroTech Lab

- Big Data and Health Equity Lab

Our Goals

  • To lead interdisciplinary research and scholarship that provides the knowledge and recommendations to promote health equity
  • To foster critical consciousness about the social determinants of health through educational and training activities
  • To collaborate with campus organization, faculty, as well as community organizations and governmental agencies to promote health equity research and activities
  • Read our Strategic Plan

Our Projects

  • Student-Engaged Research
  • Health Equity Education
  • Faculty and Campus Collaboration
  • Community development & Engagement

View our complete list of projects

Our Partners and Selected Funders

  • Federal, Foundation and non-profit Funding partners
  • SFSU partnerships
  • External University partners
  • Community partners

View our complete list of partnerships

    Our Track Record

    HEI was founded in 2006 by a dedicated group of cross-campus faculty recognizing a need at SF State to build scholarship, student training, and community engagement in health equity. 

    Through our team-based research projects, HEI has offered students, staff, and other faculty opportunities as Co-Investigators, Research Leads, and student researchers. Our student alums are over fifty students placed in Ph.D. programs, academic and industry positions, and primarily through non-profit and social change organizations. SF State Junior faculty have benefited from grant support, training, and participation as fellows in HEI programs. HEI also focuses on MA-level student training, mentorship, and leadership development. This work is made possible by campus support and the track record of HEI faculty to receive grants and funding.

    HEI has brought over 20 million dollars in research and training funds to the campus.

    Documentary Film

    woman operating a video camera

    In collaboration with the Cinema department, HEI has produced over 50 short documentaries. These films are student-produced and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Health Equity Institute. Students learn how to blend the art of storytelling with social justice issues. We are seeking funding to rebuild this program that was dissolved in 2018. 

     

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    The Transforms banner. A purple and gold rectangle with a white box overlaying it that reads SF State Transforms, Advancing Faculty Equity
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    The STS Hub Banner. A turquoise background with white letters that read STS HUB Science, technology, and society. In the center is a graphic of a group of 6 people forming a circle, each a different color of the rainbow.