OVERVIEW
Research on social determinants of health and health disparities has grown exponentially in recent years. The overarching aim of this research is to understand how the social contexts in which people live influence population-level morbidity and mortality. This line of research extends epidemiologic methods to study how social phenomena can lead to specific health outcomes. It is especially useful for studying disparities between minority and non-minority populations because structural, not individual level, factors drive the population-level health disparities. Although social epidemiologic research provides interesting new insights about relationships between contextual factors and health, it is not always clear how this knowledge can inform public health practice. Making this literature accessible to public health professionals is essential for improving the well-being of the communities they serve. Public health professionals increasingly engage in evidence-based practice that draws on the knowledge gained from research to enhance the practice of public health.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this interactive session is to enhance the capacity of public health professionals to draw on social epidemiologic research as they engage in evidence-based public health practice. In this session, we define 'social epidemiology' and other related concepts; discuss selected key findings from the literature and explore ways that social epidemiologic research can inform public health practice.

OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this session, participants shall be able to:

1. Explain the following terms: 'social epidemiology', 'social determinant of health', 'health disparity' and 'health equity'
2. Describe one example of a social determinant of health influencing the well-being of a population
3. List two social determinants of health that may be useful to one of their ongoing projects