Center for Gun Violence Research and Education Will Be Established in California
Kaiser Permanente, an integrated managed care consortium based in California, announced on May 29 that it will establish a Center for Gun Violence Research and Education to better understand how to prevent gun violence and the health implications it has on society.
The decision to launch the center comes after a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left 21 people dead.
“Our physicians, care teams and staff see firsthand the devastating aftermath of gun violence and the intergenerational trauma that has short- and long-term effects on the health of survivors, families and the communities,” said Greg Adams, chair and chief executive officer, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, in an email to The Well News.
“Repeated trauma and violence for children can also increase risk of poor health outcomes like heart disease, cancer, depression and obesity in adulthood. We, and all health care organizations, must take bold action to prevent gun violence and educate about the health implications of this violence in our society,” continued Adams.
Adams added that the center will study interventions for firearm injury with the same rigor and clinical expertise used to study and prevent strokes, cancer, heart disease and other leading causes of death.
Adams said more details will be provided about the center in the coming weeks.
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