Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola on Two Decades Advancing Health Equity
Celebrating 20 Years of the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities
As the Center for Reducing Health Disparities marks its twentieth anniversary, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola reflects on the work that has shaped CRHD over two decades: from research and community partnerships to contributions that have helped influence national approaches to meaningful community engagement. With 56 grants and awards and more than $56 million invested, CRHD’s work has centered on a question that remains at the heart of its mission: how can institutions advance health and mental health equity with historically underserved communities through genuine community engagement?
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola also looks at what those 20 years have taught CRHD about building relationships that last. He emphasizes going into communities and continuing to show up, recognizing community knowledge as expertise, giving communities a role in defining their own priorities and addressing the institutional barriers that can make meaningful partnership difficult. As CRHD looks ahead, he argues that advancing health equity requires more than building trust — it requires institutions to continually demonstrate that they are worthy of it.