Published Research Article

Health Equity Follows Racial Equity: Learning the Impact of Historic Racism Through a Summer Reading Assignment in a Graduate Public Health Course

June 24, 2025

In a new article published in Frontiers in Public Health, Health Equity Follows Racial Equity: Learning the Impact of Historic Racism Through a Summer Reading Assignment in a Graduate Public Health Course, author Donna J. Petersen describes how a summer reading assignment for incoming graduate public health students has become a powerful tool for understanding the lasting impacts of systemic racism and for shaping future leaders in health equity.

Key Findings

• Summer reading as a catalyst for deeper learning
  • Since 2015, incoming graduate students at the University of South Florida College of Public Health have been encouraged to read a book from a curated list prior to the fall semester. In 2020, the list was revised to include only works on the history of structural and systemic racism in the United States. From 2020–2024, 1,141 of 1,464 students (78%) completed the voluntary assignment.

• Building foundational knowledge in public health
  • The assignment introduces complex concepts, such as the social, economic, and political determinants of health, before students begin formal coursework. Insights from these books are integrated into classroom discussions, written assignments, and exam questions throughout the semester.

• Student reflections reveal knowledge gaps
  • Many students reported being unaware or misinformed about the history and persistence of racism in U.S. systems and policies. Reactions ranged from “eye-opening” to “shocking,” with both domestic and international students noting the relevance of this history to contemporary public health challenges.

• Assignments foster applied problem-solving
  • Follow-up coursework asks students to propose policy changes, assess public health disparities, and write letters to the editor. Common proposals include expanding health insurance coverage, improving cultural competence in health care, increasing food security, and addressing inequities in housing, education, transportation, and criminal justice.

• Links between historic racism and present-day inequities are clear
  • On final exams, students frequently identified systemic issues such as maternal mortality disparities, redlining, inequitable school funding, and mass incarceration as unacceptable determinants of poor health outcomes.

• A model for embedding racial equity into curricula
  • Petersen notes that starting with accessible, popular literature allows students to approach challenging topics in a relatable way, opening the door for deeper exploration, reflection, and action.

Implications

This approach demonstrates that a relatively simple intervention, a voluntary summer reading assignment, can have significant ripple effects on student engagement with health equity topics. By framing racial equity as central to achieving health equity from the outset, public health programs can better prepare graduates to address root causes of health disparities. Petersen suggests other schools consider adopting similar strategies, both to strengthen curricular content and to signal institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Access the Full Article

Read the full text in Frontiers in Public Health.