Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH is a board-certified, internal medicine physician, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and health equity researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Essien received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and trained in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. After residency he remained at MGH to complete a research fellowship and receive a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Essien’s research focuses on racial disparities in the use of novel medications and technologies in the management of cardiovascular diseases. In 2021, he introduced the concept “pharmacoequity,” providing a new framework to achieving equitable access to care. He has applied this framework to myriad clinical conditions, including atrial fibrillation, and is an emerging leader in the field, as recognized by over 90 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact medical journals including JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine and the NEJM and career development research grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the prestigious Harold Amos Faculty Development Program Award from the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His research has been featured in several national news outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR.

Dr. Essien is a fierce advocate for diversity and equity in medicine and is a highly sought-after speaker on racism and health, leading national seminars and keynote speeches while co-directing an “Antiracism in Medicine” podcast. Dr. Essien’s leadership in advancing health equity led him to receive several national awards including the 2019 National Minority Quality Forum 40 under 40 Leaders in Minority Health Aard, one of “30 Leaders under 40 Transforming Healthcare” by Business Inside and one of 20 Top Black Physician Social Media Influencers in 2020, and Association of American Medical Colleges Herbert W. Nickens Faculty Fellowship Award in 2021.