Who We Are

The Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE) at the University at Albany is a dynamic research hub committed to addressing social and health disparities through interdisciplinary collaboration. Our mission is to advance equitable solutions by connecting faculty, researchers, and community stakeholders with the resources and expertise needed to foster impactful, evidence-based change.

As part of UAlbany’s Division for Research & Economic Development, ISHE facilitates cutting-edge research and provides comprehensive support for project development, grant strategies and proposal writing. We aim to enhance the success of researchers by offering tailored assistance in navigating the complexities of funding, and interdisciplinary partnerships.

 

How We Can Help You

ISHE offers a range of support services to assist researchers in the grant application process. Our goal is to support researchers in securing funding and advancing the fields of public health, social work, education and policy studies. Contact ISHE.

 

On this Page


News   Events   Centers

 

 

An Institute with a Vision

UAlbany President presenting ISHE director to a room full of people on a large projector
$1.7 Million University Investment in Social and Health Equity

ISHE brings together researchers exploring topics such as disparities in maternal and childhood health, healthy aging, emergency management, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, exposure to environmental toxins, as well as social services that support vulnerable populations.

 

"Understanding the drivers that underly and perpetuate these disparities, and developing strategies to mitigate them, requires a cross-cutting approach that includes building partnerships within and beyond the University."

Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas
Vice President for Research and Economic Development


 

Proposal Development and Support Services
four men sitting at a table with their laptops open, and taking notes.

Enhance your proposals with expert guidance focused on effective writing techniques. Receive detailed feedback and actionable suggestions to strengthen your draft proposal. 

Project Management and Budgetary Support
UAlbany sign

Get help with budgeting, compliance and submission requirements to ensure your applications are accurate and complete. 

Administrative and Media Support
man staring at computer with a lap top in front of him

To streamline proposal creation and effectively convey research concepts, we offer essential administrative support, including media image development and model construction services.

Centers

ISHE serves as the umbrella institute for its centers, 
offering organizational support and fostering cross-disciplinary engagement.

ISHECenters

Center for Healthy Aging (CHA)
Improving quality of life for older adults.
 

Global Center for AI in Mental Health (GCAIMH)
Using cutting-edge AI tools to address mental health challenges globally.

Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEHD)
Working to reduce health inequities among underserved populations.
 

Center for Social and Demographic Analysis (CSDA)
Conducting interdisciplinary research on population dynamics and health, focusing on spatial inequalities and vulnerable populations.


 

Photos from the GCAIMH's Third Annual Summit

  • About 30 people pose for a photo in front of a GCAIMH Annual Summit banner.

    Some participants and presenters gather for a photo at the 2025 Global Center for AI in Mental Health's (GCAIMH) Annual Summit.

  • Five people pose for a photo in front of a GCAIMH Annual Summit banner.

    From left to right: Dr. Salvador Dura-Bernal, Director of GCAIMH and Associate Professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University; Dr. Amy Nitza, Director of the GCAIMH at UAlbany; Dr. Zeinab Hijazi, Global Mental Health Lead at UNICEF; Dr. David Christini, Senior Vice President for Research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and Dr. Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at UAlbany, whose collaboration and leadership contributed significantly to the success of this year’s summit. 

  • A presenter speaks at a podium inside a lecture hall full of conference participants. Two overhead screens display unreadable text.

    The GCAIMH's Third Annual Summit was held at the SUNY Global Center in New York City on September 19, 2025.

  • A woman gestures as she speaks into a microphone. She is standing in front of a GCAIMH Annual Summit banner.

    Dr. Amy Nitza, GCAIMH Director at UAlbany, presents on the Ther-Assist AI Model at the 2025 GCAIMH Summit.

  • Audience members listen as a man presents a slideshow from a podium. He is standing in front of a GCAIMH Annual Summit banner.

    Dr. Salvador Dura-Bernal, Director of GCAIMH and Associate Professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, presents the latest AI digital twins project and introducing the Ther-Assist AI Model.

  • A registration table with pamphlets, flowers and a sign with the words, "2025 Annual GCAIMH Summit, Resilient Innovation in Mental Health through AI and Global Partnerships, SUNY Global Center, September 19, 2025," and the logos for SUNY, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, the University at Albany and the Health Innovation Exchange.

    This 2025 Summit's theme was Resilient Innovation in Mental Health through AI and Global Partnerships.

  • A man speaks into a microphone mounted on a podium. He is standing in front of a GCAIMH Annual Summit banner.

    Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas, Vice President for Research & Economic Development at the University at Albany, opened the 2025 GCAIMH Summit.

  • Two women sit at a table talking and smiling. On the table are drinks, a pair of eye glasses and a cell phone.

    From left to right: Maria Pidgeon, Director of UAlbany's Office of Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, and Industry Partnerships, and Debbie Hazapis, Associate Director of Operations for UAlbany's Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE).

  • Three women wearing blazers and conference name tags pose for a photo together.

    From left to right: Debbie Hazapis, Associate Director of Operations for UAlbany's Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE), Rose Jackman, Senior Administrator for GCAIMH at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and Saloni Agrawal, ISHE Programs Coordinator.

News

Stay up to date with all things ISHE! Connect with us on LinkedIn, follow us on X and download our newsletter.

ISHENews
A flyer for the December 17, 2025, Youth Justice Institute Lunch & Learn webinar. The webinar's title is Topics in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Adoption, Use for Mental Health, and Safety. The presenter is Jonathan Cantor and the moderator is Amy Nitza. More information available in news article.
Upcoming Lunch & Learn Webinar — Topics in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Adoption, Use for Mental Health, and Safety
The New York State Youth Justice Institute (YJI) invites you to attend their upcoming Lunch & Learn webinar, moderated by Dr. Amy Nitza, Director of the Global Center for AI in Mental Health (GCAIMH).
A row of books leans in a shadow on a shelf.
UAlbany Study Finds Disparities in Risks for Reading Difficulties Emerge by Kindergarten
Early struggles with reading can have lifelong impacts on mental, physical and emotional health. Understanding who is most at risk of experiencing reading difficulties can inform strategies for early interventions to support students before they fall further behind. A new UAlbany study reports on disparities in the prevalence of early reading difficulties among U.S. elementary school students.
Four people dressed in business attire pose together for a group portrait in front of a wood-paneled wall.
Convening to Eliminate Environmental Health Disparities
On Oct. 16-17, the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities hosted its signature annual event, the President’s Forum on Health Disparities, in partnership with the Harvard JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program. This year’s forum explored the environmental and social determinants of health and the importance of bridging disciplines for health equity research and action.
A woman in a black business suit stands holding a microphone in front of a purple banner.
UAlbany, Downstate Researchers Demo Prototypes for AI-Supported Mental Health Care
At the Global Center for AI in Mental Health's annual summit, held earlier this month at the SUNY Global Center in Manhattan, researchers from UAlbany and SUNY Downstate, together with developers from Google and other leading tech companies, debuted prototypes of their latest tools to expand mental health care capacity.
Institute of Education Sciences logo
Dr. Paul L. Morgan Awarded $157,000 from the U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Paul L. Morgan, Professor in the School of Public Health and ISHE Faculty Member, has been awarded $157,000 from the U.S. Department of Education for his project: “Who receives and benefits from special education in the U.S.? Analyses of three nationally representative datasets.”
The Engagement Ring Podcast logo.
ISHE Featured on UAlbany’s Engagement Ring Podcast: Building a Hub for Multidisciplinary Research
Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE) was recently featured on the University at Albany’s official podcast, The Engagement Ring! In the episode titled "Building A Hub for Multidisciplinary Research — UAlbany's Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE)", Dr. Paul Morgan, a renowned scholar in the field of education and Director of ISHE, shares the vision, goals and growing impact of the institute.
Child portrayed over a map of the United States with newsprint typed over it in an artistic way.
ISHE Researchers Receive Recognition for Groundbreaking Work on Equity in Education
The Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE) is proud to highlight two important contributions by our researchers that address pressing issues in educational equity.

Events

 
ISHEEvents