BACKGROUND

verall, the health of the American population has improved due to advancements in medical technology, but disparities among minority populations exist and continue to be prevailing causes of concern. In 2000, African American and Hispanic children accounted for 80% of all pediatric AIDS cases. In 2006, an estimated 26,515 AIDS cases were diagnosed for persons of minority races/ethnicities, accounting for 70% of all AIDS cases diagnosed that year in the U.S. and dependent areas (National Center for Health Statistics, CDC). African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers (National Center for Health Statistics, CDC). African Americans are also twice as likely as their counterparts to have type-2 diabetes and suffer from amputations, kidney disease, and other diabetes-related complications (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

With these and many more staggering health statistics, it is undeniable that chronic, as well as communicable diseases devastate the entire minority family. What can we do to stop the destruction of these communities? As one response, more minorities need to be trained in the health professions. Thus, programs are a prerequisite to broaden the opportunities and experiences for minority students who wish to enter the public health sciences, in particular, biostatistics, epidemiology, and occupational safety and health.