The pandemic put into sharp focus how deep health disparities run in the state.

Low income Black and brown residents experienced some of the worst health outcomes.

A recent review of the state's response to the COVID crisis highlighted just how critical it is for public leaders to address that.

At a Rutgers health symposium today, experts in research, public policy and Community health came together to identify existing problems and work to solve them.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports.

You know, like CDC, great.

There were a couple very large grants that we were going to provide with you to, but we couldn't because the city clinics are some recipients.

A day of conversation and exchange of ideas.

As members of the medical community attended this Health Anniversary symposium at Rutgers, New Brunswick.

Today, we gather not only to commemorate a decade of growth and progress of Rutgers health, but also to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as we address the critical issue of health equity in our communities.

Major disparities, health advocates say, have existed for quite some time, but will highlight an even more during the pandemic.

I think we continue to see challenges with health inequities in the state of New Jersey, which is a phenomenon not just of our state, but as our country and our world.

But what I think we tend to see is we do make progress in improving health for people in different populations.

But the gap between different subsets of our populations persist.

Statistics like Back people living in the United States are their life expectancy is four times lower than that of white United States residents that people of color in our state in New Jersey were 2 to 3 times more likely to die or be hospitalized during the pandemic than white New Jersey residents.

That, like many people talk about today, pregnancy mortality is three times higher for poor Black and brown women than for white women.

New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston saying her decision to enter a career in medicine has always been driven by the need for equity.

Having been raised in rural America and.

Growing up in southeast Ohio, I witnessed inequities and really had trouble stomaching the inequities.

I saw around me.

And that ranged from just poverty to seeing a kid when I was young, get on the school bus with me without shoes on.

One day to hearing racist, racist statements or racial slurs when I'm walking through the town.

And all of those from a very young age just sat uncomfortably with me.

And I decided from being imprinted in that young age, I knew that where people ended up had so much more to do with where they started and what we throw at them in the world than anything else.

Health advocates believe instead of just documenting disparities, tackling the root of the problem means tailoring solutions to meet specific communities.

Since a one size fits all approach doesn't.

Work, some of the researchers here at Rutgers University are learning about how different communities use technology differently, either in cultural groups or through different languages.

And so we have to think about how do we use those tools to then meet the needs of that population and understand how they're using those tools differently.

So I think that's a great example of how both understanding through research is really important to then execute.

Putting public health initiatives in a diversity of different ways.

And staff at Rutgers are hoping this symposium will lead to significant change so all residents can have access to the high quality care they deserve.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Melissa Rose Cooper.