News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Why Are Disease Rates Higher for Certain Groups in Florida?

Discussions about how to eliminate health disparities and improve every community's health are underway at the University of Florida.

The People's Scientific Conference, held Friday and Saturday at the University of Florida Health Professions Complex on Center Drive, brings together community members, health professionals and researchers.

Research Associate Stephanie Tran said it's their first discussion about addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.

"Health disparities are inequalities in health among a different number of groups," Tran said, "such as racial minorities or even people differentiated by their geographical location like urban and rural."

The conference will address the following enduring diseases in order to properly combat them:


  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Hypertension
  • Mental health issues

"We're trying to keep this a very broadly-focused conference on all types of disease we can address and that a lot of people tend to have questions with," Tran said.

The conference will also be starting a mentoring program to prepare future researchers.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org