Grants: CDC Project IMHOTEP
TRAINING UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FOR
CAREERS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES
The Public Health Sciences Institute has a five year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service. The cooperative agreement addresses the need to increase the knowledge capacity and skills of underrepresented students in all public health disciplines. This goal is met primarily through the development of a comprehensive educational training program by didactic training in all public health disciplines and public health research field experience at local, state, federal, or non-governmental organization agencies.
The National Undergraduate Summer Public Health Program (NUSPHP) is funded through The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity to support Morehouse College, Columbia University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the University of Michigan in their efforts to engage student in public health education and training. The overall goal of the NUSPHP is to improve the representation of disadvantaged groups, underrepresented populations, and those interested in health disparities in public health by increasing their awareness of public health services and epidemiology.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency responsible for the nation's efforts "to prevent unnecessary illness and death and enhance the health of the American people." Since its inception in 1946, the agency has been an advocate for the control and prevention of disease and leads such efforts against malaria, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and tuberculosis. The mission of the CDC is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability and strives to protect people's health and safety, provide reliable health information, and improve health.
Many of these areas of concern include environmental and occupational hazards, behavioral risks, chronic diseases, and emerging infectious diseases. CDC accomplishes its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and world to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct applied research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training.
In an effort to provide training and research opportunities for minorities interested in the health professions, the CDC has entered into a cooperative agreement with Morehouse College to support programs administered by the Public Health Sciences Institute (PHSI). Through this agreement PHSI administers and supports various educational and research programs including the summer internship program, Project: IMHOTEP.
The National Undergraduate Summer Public Health Program (NUSPHP) is funded through The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity to support Morehouse College, Columbia University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the University of Michigan in their efforts to increase the number of underrepresented students who are engaged in public health education and training. The overall goal of the NUSPHP is to improve the representation of underrepresented populations in public health by increasing their awareness of public health services and epidemiology.