Center for Health Equity

At the Center for Health Equity at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we see a future where your ZIP code does not correlate to your state of health, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, that is not the current state in Philadelphia, where more than 120,000 children live below the poverty line.

The center seeks to serve as a central hub for health equity efforts across the CHOP enterprise and seeks to leverage the collective strength of the hospital’s clinical expertise, research and community-based programming to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children.

As we continue to improve our programs and demonstrate strong outcomes, we will then propose adaptable models for health equity that can be used in communities across the country.

The CHE brings together health equity experts whose initiatives align with our four core work streams: Community Translation, Clinical Quality and Safety, Advocacy and Justice, and Research and Education.

Vision

CHOP’s Center for Health Equity (CHE) seeks to discover, implement and disseminate evidence-based practices and policies so that every child in Philadelphia has equitable care and that every child in Philadelphia achieves their best health.

Mission

To achieve health equity by delivering HOPE to children:

Help to create safe and healthy housing and communities

Opportunities to thrive and options to succeed in achieving their best health through unbiased clinical care

Partnerships with communities to achieve health equity for all children in Philadelphia

Education in safe and healthy schools to encourage children to become economically independent adults

Values

Integrity: We believe in the importance of being genuine and truthful in our intentions. Transparency is at the core of our research and evident in our work.

Compassion: We seek to ensure every member of the communities we serve is treated through a sympathetic and nonjudgmental lens. We strive to understand the individuality within our communities to ensure our patients receive care that is customized to their needs.

Accountability: We hold ourselves accountable to our patients, families and communities. To that end, communities’ voices are the backbone of the CHE and guide our work.

Respect: Respect for our patients and colleagues is at the core of who we are. Accordingly, we believe that diversity is essential to growth and excellence, and we seek to collaborate with community members, researchers and experts in health equity.

Excellence: We pursue a standard of excellence by encouraging curiosity and innovation. We aspire to bring about change through clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

Our Team