Dr. Cancel-Tirado, whose research focuses on health disparities, says health equity is not just about expanding healthcare coverage.

We have to address the different determinants of health that are causing a gap in life expectancy or the type of life that you can live. Things like education, transportation, urban planning – everything that has an impact on health is health policy.

So if we want to address health equity, we really need to revisit how we care for everyone. And look at how we can allow people to make decisions under the right conditions. Nobody should have to make the decision to pay rent or take their child to the dentist.