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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Nasar U. Ahmed, PhD¹, Swaroop N. Purani, BHMS¹, and Gillian Haber, MPH². (1) Epidemiology and Biostatistics, FIU Stempel School of Public Health, HLS 588, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, 305-348-1093, ahmedn@fiu.edu, (2) Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Stempel School Of Public Health, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Many ethnic minorities and other socioeconomically deprived communities suffer from unjust burdens of poor health, inadequate quality of life and excessive rates of death. Recognizing serious effects of inequities, the US Public Health Service (Healthy People 2010) states that increase longevity and quality of life, and eliminating health disparities are the two overarching goals. To achieve these goals, trained personnel are needed to understand the problem and its causal roots and to develop effective public health programs and policies.

About 73% of health departments have no or minimum capacity in evaluating public health services, and 93% have no or minimum capacity to conduct research about solving health problems. These staggering statistics call for national attention to tackle trained manpower shortages and this problem becomes enormous when it comes to addressing health disparity.

Out of 142 public health schools in the nation, 8 schools have a course on health disparities; surprisingly only one addresses methodogical issues conducting health disparity research and program development. Although, 12 other schools are focusing on eliminating health disparities using community action plans, without offering any health disparity courses. Before developing and implementing community action plans, trained personnel are needed to conduct research and evaluation.

Improving the competency of public health personnel nationwide is one of the ongoing goals of ASPH credentialing. The university public health schools are at a crucial position to curb health disparities through education and research. This study proposes the integration of a health disparity course in public health core curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience will be aware of current status of public health schools stand on health disparity education
• Participants will understand the role of school of public health on disparity research
• Audience will recognize importance of health disparity course in public health core curriculum

Keywords: Health Disparities, Curricula

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation