CDC Funds Program for Minority Students Focused on Public Health and Biomedical Science
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded Columbia University a $3.7 million federal grant for a five-year program to implement the Summer Public Health Scholars Program, a partnership among the four schools of Columbia University Medical Center: the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dental Medicine, and the School of Nursing.
The grant supports an innovative transdisciplinary model to diversify all four of CUMC's schools and improve the health of the public. Aimed at fostering an interest in public health and biomedical science among minority undergraduates, the program will recruit and train 50 students a year who are undecided about their career choices from community colleges, four-year colleges and post-baccalaureate programs.
The intensive 10-week program will include three days a week doing fieldwork in public health alongside professional mentors and weekly courses in epidemiology, health disparities, and cultural competence. Each participant will be required to complete a final paper and oral presentation.
The principal investigators are:
- Robert Fullilove, EdD, Mailman School associate dean for community and minority affairs and professor of clinical sociomedical sciences;
- Elizabeth Cohn, DNSc, RN, ACNP-C, ANP, assistant professor, School of Nursing;
- Dennis Mitchell, DDS, College of Dental Medicine associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs;
- Hilda Hutcherson, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and associate dean for diversity affairs of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Contact the Office of Diversity Affairs for more information.