RCGD Seminar Series: Courtney Thomas Tobin

Open to: Everyone

Courtney Thomas Tobin joins us April 7, 2025 to present emerging work from the M.O.S.A.I.C. (Multimorbidity Outcomes & Solutions for African/Black Americans In California) Initiative, a community-engaged research collaborative aimed at advancing equity-centered multimorbidity research and solutions.

Multimorbidity—the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions—represents a major contributor to racial health disparities in the United States. Yet, research on multimorbidity among Black Americans remains limited and inconsistent, particularly with regard to measurement approaches, inclusion of mental health conditions, and age-specific patterns. This gap undermines our ability to accurately estimate burden, identify at-risk groups, and design effective, culturally relevant interventions.

In this talk, Dr. Courtney S. Thomas Tobin will focus on Phase II of the Initiative—P.R².I.S.M. (Pinpointing Risks and Resources and Identifying Specific Multimorbidities). This presentation draws on data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) to examine national patterns of multimorbidity among Black Americans.

Dr. Thomas Tobin will explore how definitions and measurement strategies (e.g., counts vs. categories, inclusion of mental health conditions) shape estimates of prevalence, associated correlates, and subgroup differences across the adult life course. Findings offer critical insights for improving the measurement, monitoring, and mitigation of multimorbidity in Black communities.