The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43333

Carl V. Hill, MPH¹, Zara Sadler, MS², Peter Thomas, MPH³, Michael Joseph, MPH¹, Michael Joseph, MPH¹, Michael Joseph, MPH¹, and Zara Sadler, MS². (1) School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mail Stop E-59, Ann Arbor, MI 48197, 713-320-3331, hillcv@umich.edu, (2) Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, (3) School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Michigan, 109 Observatory St., Rm 1009 SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has previously mandated the improved inclusion of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities in the health professions. Approximately 25 percent of the U.S. population is of minority status, but only 10 percent of the health professional workforce is of minority status. Healthy People 2010 will address this gap by attempting to attract more minorities to the health professions, and as a result, provide minority populations with better needs assessments, quality of and access to health care. An early indication of this is the higher number of Blacks matriculating in established Schools of Public Health, as well as in newly developed Public Health training programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). To date, there are six (6) such programs at HBCU's: · Florida A&M University, · Fort Valley State University, · Jackson State University, · Meharry College of Medicine, · Morehouse School of Medicine, and · Morgan State University. The increase in number of academic settings that train students/scholars of color illustrates the need for establishing sustainable mechanisms that promote professional and collegial networking. This panel session provides students and junior public health professionals of color, with a formal opportunity to hear from established public health professionals regarding the influence of racial/ethnic identity on a career in Public Health. Panelists from four (4) tracks namely, International Health, Traditional Public Health, Nontraditional Public Health, and National Public Health Official, will present their perspective of being a person of color pursuing a career in these related fields.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. To highlight the challenges and remarkable accomplishments encountered by several Public Health Professionals in their career development;
• 2. To engage in dialogue on the many options available for a meaningful career in Public Health;
• 3. To provide a structure and forum through which Black Public Health Professionals can exchange views and create mutually beneficial mentoring partnerships beyond the time frame of the 2002 APHA annual conference.

Keywords: Professionalism,

Related Web page: www.omedium.com/blackpublichealthnetwork

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.