McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series: Dr. Utibe R. Essien

McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series: Dr. Utibe R. Essien

Date: Thursday November 13, 2025

Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Location: Palmer Commons, Great Lakes Room, 100 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Title: Pursuing Pharmacoequity: A Prescription for Health

Coined by Dr. Utibe Essien, pharmacoequity is defined as “ensuring all individuals, regardless of race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or availability of resources, have access to the highest-quality medications required to manage their health needs.”. The goal of this talk is to explain the concept of pharmacoequity and how individuals can apply this knowledge to their practice and communities.

Speaker
Dr. Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles; Associate Vice Chair, Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence, Department of Medicine

Biography
Dr. Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH, FACP is a board-certified, internal medicine physician, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and health equity researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. A proud New Yorker, Dr. Essien received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY before training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. After residency he remained at MGH to complete a General Internal Medicine fellowship and receive an MPH degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Essien’s research focuses on disparities in the use of novel medications and technologies, particularly in the management of cardiovascular diseases. In 2021, he coined the term “pharmacoequity,” providing a new framework to achieving equitable access to care. He is an emerging leader in the field, as recognized by over 120 peer-reviewed publications and research grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Heart Association. His research has earned him numerous national awards including a 2023 Young Physician Scientist Award from the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), the 2024 Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Outstanding Junior Investigator of the Year Award, and selection as an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).

McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series

Disparities in health and healthcare have been are prevalent, particularly in underserved or minority communities, as a result of a variety of factors such as birthplace, housing, education, race, age, sexual identity and other nonmedical factors. These factors are commonly referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). As a result of SDOH, quality healthcare and treatment can be difficult to access for many who don’t fall into the dominant group and must confront barriers to receive treatment.

Examples of barriers to adequate healthcare treatment include poverty, lack of access to quality education or positive social activities, and unhealthy environmental factors. These factors must be addressed in order to achieve positive health outcomes and equity in access to healthcare and treatment for all. To help illuminate and educate around issues involving social determinants of health, the College of Pharmacy and the McKesson Foundation have teamed up to launch the McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series.

For the past two years the College of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan in partnership with the McKesson Foundation has hosted a speaker series based on the topic of health equity. The McKesson Foundation is dedicated to advancing health outcomes for all with the mission to removing barriers to quality healthcare across the country, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities. The College of Pharmacy also has a longstanding history of fighting to address addressing disparities in healthcare and is a leader in the fight for equitable healthcare for all individuals. This alignment in values and mission of both organizations led to the provision awarding of a grant to resulted in the College of Pharmacy being awarded a grant in 2022 to launch what we now call the McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series, with the goal of educating the UM community and inspiring those around us to find solutions that address inequities in healthcare and beyond.

About our Funder, the McKesson Foundation
The McKesson Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations. It focuses on initiatives that address healthcare disparities, promote patient-centered care, and support cancer care and survivorship. Through grants, partnerships, and employee-driven giving programs, the foundation aims to foster innovative solutions that enhance community health and well-being.