We reflect on the work of this research cluster with gratitude to the late Dr. Lundy Braun who passed away in August, 2024. Sections of this report reflect Dr. Braun’s contributions.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Race, Medicine, and Social Justice Cluster continued its in-depth examination of racism in medicine. Under the co-direction of Dr. Lundy Braun and Dr. Taneisha Wilson, the Cluster focused on anti-Black racism in medicine, both as a historical foundation and as an ongoing structure that affects all marginalized communities. Throughout the year, we engaged in interdisciplinary discussions and hosted Dr. Eugenia “Gina” South, the Ralph Muller Presidential Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UPenn’s Perelman School of Medicine and Faculty Director of the Penn Medicine Center for Health Justice. Dr. South’s work on structural health interventions—such as vacant lot greening and abandoned home remediation—demonstrated powerful effects on gun violence prevention and mental and physical health on populations. Her lecture emphasized the importance of place-based, health-promoting interventions that counter structural inequities, especially in Black and Brown communities.

The Cluster also continued critical conversations on topics like the persistence of race-based algorithms in healthcare, the role of physician unions, and the legacies of colonialism in epidemiology. Notable discussions included an exploration of Maladies of Empire by Jim Downs, which examined the roots of epidemiology in imperialism and slavery, and Duana Fullwiley’s analysis of genetic ancestry versus race in medicine. This upcoming year's events will build on previous contributions especially as we pay tribute to the late Dr. Lundy Braun. The Cluster with the STS (Science, Technology, and Society) will honor her legacy through symposium planning and the upcoming reading of Breathing Race into Medicine. The group remains steadfast in advancing Dr. Braun's work to challenge the racialized underpinnings of medical knowledge production, ensuring that future medical research and practice reflect principles of equity and justice. Through these initiatives, our Race, Medicine, and Social Justice Cluster will continue to foster an environment for transformative learning and activism, bridging academia with real-world impact.