What if your doctor’s prescription for better health had nothing to do with medicine—and everything to do with where you live? In this episode of Prescribing a Healthier Future, Dr. Akilah Weber Pearson, physician and California State Senator, sits down with Dr. Rodney Hood, a nationally recognized leader in health equity, to explore how the social determinants of health—like housing, food access, transportation, education, and even racism—shape our well-being far more than what happens in the doctor’s office. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why your ZIP code can determine your lifespan more than your genetic code How food deserts, redlining, and housing instability create health disparities The real impact of chronic stress and racism on physical health How community-based solutions like health workers, local gardens, and housing first models are transforming outcomes 👉 Subscribe to Prescribing a Healthier Future for more powerful conversations about the intersection of health, policy, and community. 🎧 Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Some notable moments from this episode: 00:00 – Intro – The Prescription You Can’t Write 01:05 – What Are the Social Determinants of Health? 02:20 – Your ZIP Code vs. Your Genetic Code 04:25 – Food Deserts and Nutrition Inequality 07:20 – Community Solutions: Gardens and Farmers Markets 09:57 – Housing Instability and Health Outcomes 13:00 – Transportation Barriers to Care 17:04 – Historical Roots: Redlining and Health Inequity 23:10 – Education, Wealth, and Lifespan 24:07 – Racism, Chronic Stress, and Health Disparities 30:20 – Community Health Workers: The Secret Sauce 35:50 – The Housing First Model: Investing in Health 38:00 – The Economics of Health Equity 40:00 – Final Takeaway – Health Starts in Our Communities 41:30 – Outro – Join the Movement   HASHTAGS: #HealthEquity #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #PublicHealth #CommunityWellness #AkilahWeber #RodneyHood #FoodAsMedicine #HousingFirst #HealthPolicy #CaliforniaHealth  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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