Black History Month
In celebration of February as Black History Month, AHRQ is pleased to highlight the significant role and impact that African Americans have made on society. This annual observance presents an opportunity for the Agency to recognize AHRQ-funded researchers’ important contributions to improving health equity and advancing the Agency’s mission to improve healthcare access, quality, and safety for all Americans. AHRQ is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, equity, and equal respect for one another.
Grantee Spotlight
As part of Black History Month, AHRQ is highlighting research done by our Agency grantees to improve care provided to African Americans.

Brian William Jack, M.D.
Implementation and Dissemination of Gabby, a Health Information Technology (HIT) System for Young Women, Into Community-Based Clinical Sites

Fabian Johnston, M.D., M.H.S.
Promoting Early Utilization of Palliative Care for African Americans Using Culturally Informed Patient Navigation

Mya Lee Roberson, M.S.P.H., Ph.D. candidate
Evaluating Geographic Variation in Breast Cancer Surgical Outcomes Among Black Women in the U.S. South

Betsy Sleath, Ph.D.
Improving African American Glaucoma Patient Involvement in Visits and Outcomes
AHRQ-Funded Research and Publications on Disparities, Race, and Ethnicity
Research on Healthcare Disparities
- 2019 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR)
- NHQDR Data Spotlights
- Understanding and Addressing High Rates of Refusal of Pneumococcal Vaccination Among African-Americans (PDF, 364 KB)
Patient Safety Network (PSNet)
- African American COVID-19 mortality: a sentinel event
- Post-discharge adverse events among African American and Caucasian patients of an urban community hospital
- Racial disparities in maternal mortality
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
Statistical Briefs
- #243: Trends and Disparities in Delivery Hospitalizations Involving Severe Maternal Morbidity, 2006-2015 (PDF, 214 KB).
- Infographic (PDF, 171 KB)
- #222: Delivery Hospitalizations Involving Preeclampsia and Eclampsia, 2005-2014 (PDF, 291 KB)
- #53: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hospital Patient Safety Events, 2005 (PDF, 209 KB)
- #21: Sickle Cell Disease Patients in U.S. Hospitals, 2004 (PDF, 160 KB)
- #10: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations, 2003 (PDF, 170 KB)
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Research Findings
- #43: Adults Treated for Conditions Associated with Chronic Pain versus Other Conditions, 2013-2015, PDF (654 KB); HTML
- #40: Uninsured All Year, 2013-2016: Estimates for Non-Elderly Adults by Selected Population Sub-groups and State Medicaid Expansion Status, PDF (1.2 MB); HTML
- #39: Ambulatory Care Use and Expenditures among Non-Elderly Veterans, 2011-2015, PDF (185 KB); HTML
Statistical Briefs
- #531: Healthcare Expenditures for Heart Disease among Adults Age 18 and Older in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2017, PDF (819 KB); HTML
- #518: Treatment and Monitoring of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by Race/Ethnicity, 2015-2016, PDF (663 KB); HTML
- #516: Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Non-Elderly Adults in 2015-2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics, PDF (2.0 MB); HTML
- #501: Children's Usual Source of Care: Insurance, Income, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities, 2004-2014, PDF (136 KB); HTML
- #498: Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Adults with Health Care Expenses for Multiple Chronic Conditions, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2014, PDF (164 KB); HTML