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Project Name: Public Health Scholarship Program (T52)
Applicant Title: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Abstract Text: Principal Investigator/ Project Director: Dr. Sondos Islam Requested Total Funds: $1,499,618 (Yr1: $499,988: Y2: $499,815; Y3: 499,815) Funding Preference: CDU-PHPs-HRSA-PHSP Project requests funding preference based on qualification 1) in AY 2020-2021, 93% and 62% of our BSPH and MPH students, respectively, were educationally/environmentally and/or economically disadvantaged by HRSA criteria, and 93% and 97% of our BSPH and MPH students, respectively, were from underrepresented racial and ethnics minorities by HRSA criteria; qualification 2) during AY 20-21, 50% and 47% of our BSPH and MPH graduates, respectively, were employed in practice setting located in medically underserved areas (MUAs) as indicated by HPSA MUA Find website. Overview: CDU, Public Health Programs (PHPs)- Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) in Urban Health Disparities (UHDs) and Master of Public Health (MPH) in UHDs, will implement and evaluate the project to achieve the PHSP goal. The project aims to recruit, retain, train, graduate and facilitate placement in the PH workforce of 85 underrepresented minority (URM) students (15 BSPH and 10 MPH students in budget year 1, and 20 BSPH and 10 MPH students in budget years 2 and 3) by the end of the project period. The project capitalizes on CDU's success in recruiting and graduating ethnically diverse health profession students to transform the PH workforce by targeting the unmet need for culturally competent PH graduates to address the health needs of communities in MUAs. In keeping with the CDU and PHPs mission, all PHSP scholarship recipients will be committed to working in MUAs after degree completion. The following are the CDU-PHPs-HRSA-PHSP objectives: 1. Increase recruitment activities of prospective PH students, especially underrepresented minority (URM) students from disadvantaged backgrounds, to matriculate in CDU PHPs by highlighting the availability of PHSP funds to reduce the cost of tuition, fees, and educational supplies per academic year. 2. At least 90% of PHSP awardees will be retained each semester, and will graduate within 150% of degree completion time. 3. Place CDU PHPs-PHSP awardees in field experience training sites with organizations that serve the health needs of urban communities in MUAs. 4. At least 90% of PHSP awardees will be employed in the PH workforce within 12 months of graduation, to meet the core PH workforce functions and needs. The proposed project will expand on CDU’s established reputation, partnerships, and pipeline programs to recruit PH students who are committed to the CDU and PHPs missions. CDU PHPs have graduated more than 250 PH graduates since 2008, 90% of whom are from URM groups. CDU's maximally accredited PHPs cultivate ethnically diverse culturally competent PH graduates, using rigorous competency-based urban health disparities PH curricula and field training experience in MUAs, to join the PH workforce to meet core PH functions, the Ten Essential PH Services, and decrease PH inequalities and health disparities. The project will increase recruitment of PH students, bolster retention through comprehensive student support services, offer field training experience in MUAs, and facilitate job placement in the PH workforce. The CDU-PHPs-HRSA-PHSP Project will be led by Dr. Sondos Islam, Chair of the Department of Urban Public Health and Director of the BSPH and MPH Programs, as the project's Principal Investigator/Program Director, with support from CDU faculty, staff, and Directors of CDU Academic Support Units.