Paula Braveman, MD, MPH, is Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Founding Director of the Center for Health Equity at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Braveman has studied and published extensively on health equity, health disparities, racism, and other social determinants of health. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with local, state, national, and international health agencies to see rigorous research translated into practice for greater health equity, including the World Health Organization and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2002, considered one of the highest honors for U.S. scientists working in the field of health.

"The author has thought deeply about the issues discussed in this book, and has analyzed and described them with clarity. I strongly endorse The Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities." -- Nancy Adler, former Director, UCSF Center for Health and Community

"This is a well-researched, insightful, and accessible text designed for readers without prior knowledge of the social determinants of health. It addresses controversies and policy implications in a thoughtful manner. It is an authoritative resource from one of the world's most recognized experts." -- Georges C. Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association

"The concept of social determinants of health changes the way we need to think about health and the fair distribution of health in populations. It is supported by a rich scientific literature. The concepts and the evidence are all beautifully and clearly laid out in this book. It will be a wonderful and necessary resource." -- Michael Marmot, Director, UCL Institute of Health Equity and Chair, WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health

"This is an extremely valuable and accessible resource for faculty and students, as well as the general public. Comprehensive and insightful, it elegantly demystifies the social determinants of health and how they influence health, with an in-depth look at racism—one of the most powerful social determinants." -- David R. Williams, Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health