ARCC Research

During orientation research into ARCC, I gravitated toward articles, blogs, and videos about policy and health. As a major in public policy, I was especially interested in learning how public policies shape health outcomes and how racism continues to affect people. Usually in academic settings, we talk about current racism and how to solve it through policy, but rarely about how policies themselves perpetuate racism. Racism runs deep in society, in many forms. It shows up in media, online, and in everyday talk. Racism also exists in systems and institutions, including healthcare. Research shows minorities of different races often face barriers to quality healthcare, such as limited access to medical services, unequal treatment, and poorer health outcomes. These disparities are not just due to individual choices but are influenced by policies, historical inequalities, and social conditions. This changes people’s lives simply because of their race.

One topic that really stood out to me was public policy and how it reduces health disparities. Policies that expand access to healthcare, improve education, and support safe housing as well as deal with environmental hazards can have a big impact on communities. At the same time, such policies often either ignore or reinforce inequality that contributes to worse health outcomes for people of color. This helped me realize that health is much more than hospitals or doctors. It is shaped by environments where people live, work, and learn. Conducting this research also reminded me of listening to different viewpoints and using evidence to guide decisions. It is easy to downplay others’ life experiences if you assume everyone walks life’s path with the same conditions. This also shows that addressing disparities in health requires collaboration among healthcare professionals and policymakers.

My ARCC orientation research strengthened my interest in the connection between policy and health. It showed me that improving public health is not only about treating illness but also about creating a safe environment that gives everyone an equal opportunity to live a healthy life. This topic has inspired me to continue learning about how policy can be used to reduce disparities and create healthier communities for future generations.