Lisa Cooper Receives Prestigious Graham Prize for Health Services Research

Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH, FACP, received the 2023 William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research from the Baxter International Foundation and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) on June 30, 2023, during AUPHA's 2023 Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. Dr. Cooper directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity and Urban Health Institute. She is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and the James F. Fries Professor of Medicine with additional appointments at the School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health.  

"Social determinants of health, disparities in care, and imbalances in the relationship between providers and patients from historically marginalized groups are some of the highest profile issues of the day," said Richard Hirth, PhD, University of Michigan, and Chair of the 2023 William B. Graham Prize Selection Committee. "Dr. Cooper has worked on these issues throughout her career, providing foundational knowledge supporting the current work of many scholars. Not only is Dr. Cooper's work crucial to understanding these vital issues, but she has also emphasized addressing them through the design of practical interventions to improve the ability of healthcare organizations to serve populations facing health disparities and to enhance physicians' communication skills and patients' self-management skills. Awarding the Graham Prize to Dr. Cooper creates a platform to further the impact of her ground-breaking work." 

Social determinants of health, disparities in care, and imbalances in the relationship between providers and patients from historically marginalized groups are some of the highest profile issues of the day. Dr. Cooper has worked on these issues throughout her career, providing foundational knowledge supporting the current work of many scholars. ~ Richard Hirth, Chair of the 2023 William B. Graham Prize Selection Committee.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award for my work on community-engaged, relationship-centered approaches to address health disparities," Cooper said. "As a physician-scientist and first-generation African immigrant, I have dedicated my life to addressing this important issue in the U.S. and around the world. I am grateful for this recognition, which reminds us of the urgent need to address the systemic barriers that prevent people in underserved communities from accessing quality healthcare and that perpetuate elevated rates of disease, disability, and premature death. I hope my work will motivate others to undertake rigorous research, cultivate innovative practices, and formulate effective policies to build a healthier future for all."  

According to the information from AUPHA, the Graham Prize recognizes individuals who have significantly increased the quality of or access to health services delivery worldwide through the development of insights or innovation that have eliminated barriers to the education and prevention of non-communicable diseases; highlighted the importance of proper nutrition in underserved communities; removed barriers to accessing clean water; and/or produced innovative health solutions and technologies that increase access to quality care. Each year, an independent committee of past winners, distinguished academics, and internationally recognized researchers selects the recipient. 

The Baxter International Foundation is committed to increasing access to healthcare for underserved communities," said Verónica Arroyave, executive director of the Baxter International Foundation and senior director of global community relations at Baxter. "We're inspired by leaders like Dr. Cooper, whose contributions to addressing health disparities are critical in creating sustainable change, and we are proud to support this important work."  

A general internist, social epidemiologist, and health services researcher, Cooper was one of the first scientists to document disparities in the quality of relationships between physicians and patients from socially at-risk groups. She then designed innovative interventions targeting physicians' communication skills, patients' self-management skills, and healthcare organizations' ability to address the needs of populations experiencing health disparities. The author of over 300 publications and principal investigator of over 20 federal and private foundation grants, Cooper has mentored over 70 individuals seeking careers in medicine, nursing, and public health. 

Prize sponsors, Baxter International Foundation and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration , have awarded the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research since 1986 to recognize researchers who have made significant contributions to public health through innovative research in health services. The Prize honors the late William B. Graham, longtime chair and CEO of Baxter International Inc., and is regarded internationally as the premier recognition for individuals conducting health services research. Past recipients have included David R. Williams, PhD, William Hsiao, PhD., Peter Pronovost, MD, Elizabeth Bradley, PhD, David Blumenthal, MD, and Uwe Reinhardt, PhD. 

Cooper gave the talk “Shaping a Healthier Tomorrow: Relationships are the Key to Health Equity” during the awards ceremony and will have an article based on that presentation published in the summer 2023 edition Journal of Health Administration Education. The prize also carries a cash award. Dr. Cooper designated Emory University as an institution that has supported her work to receive a portion of the prize. Baxter International Foundation selected Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc. (STAR), a 501(c) 3, non-profit, federally recognized, Community-Based/Faith-Based Organization in Baltimore, and a long-time partner of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, as a recipient of the 2023 prize.