204408 Project Imhotep: Preparing Underrepresented Minority Americans for Careers in the Public Health Sciences

Monday, November 9, 2009

Cynthia Trawick, MA, EdD , Public Health Sciences Institute, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Lailaa Ragins, MPH , Master of Public Health Program, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
  
Project Imhotep is an internship program at Morehouse College designed to train undergraduate minority students for entry into graduate and professional programs, and subsequently, careers in the public health sciences; specifically, biostatistics, epidemiology, and occupational safety and health. Project Imhotep seeks not only to facilitate the development of the underrepresented public health workforce domestically, but to develop international networks and increase the number of globally-engaged public health scientists as well. These goals are achieved through an 11-week program which includes coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, occupational safety, and industrial hygiene. Interns participate in courses to strengthen their scientific writing, presentation skills, and their ability to analyze data using statistical software. In addition to that, interns carry out investigational studies similar to those of the Epidemiological Intelligence Service (EIS) officer course at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most importantly, interns conduct public health related research for nine weeks at assigned locations (e.g. CDC-Atlanta, CDC-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). Future interns will take a course international health and have the option of completing their research abroad. Through a partnership with CARE USA, and funding provided by the Association of Schools of Public Health, students will be able to conduct public health research in Tanzania. Project Imhotep has demonstrated a unique capacity to provide substantive courses, training opportunities and mentoring which prepares, supports, and encourages students to gain admission to graduate school, complete advanced degrees in public health related areas, and increase the public health workforce domestically and internationally.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Identify factors which promote the need for increased public health training of minority undergraduates. 2.) Explain the multi-layered training approach of the Project Imhotep internship program. 3.) Describe the importance of programs such as Project Imhotep for the development of a diverse public health workforce.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Career Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Cynthia E. Trawick, Ed.D Director, Morehouse College, Public Health Sciences Institute EDUCATION/TRAINING Spelman College, Atlanta, GA BS 1981-85 Natural Science Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA MA 1996-97 Science Education Clark Atlanta University, EdD May 2006 Education Administration/Leadership A. Positions and Honors. Positions and Employment 1997 – Pres. Director, Morehouse College, Public Health Sciences Institute 1998 – 2000 Adjunct Professor, Clark Atlanta University, Curriculum Department 1991 – 1997 Coordinator of Educational Programs, Morehouse College, Public Health Sciences Institute 1991 – 1993 Research Associate, Emory University, Emory Youth Survey 1990 – 1991 Program Assistant, Midway Child Development Center 1986 – 1990 Health Educator, Spelman College 1987 – 1989 Research Assistant, Morehouse School of Medicine 1986 – 1987 Biology Laboratory Instructor, Atlanta Junior College Other Experience and Professional Memberships 1989 – Pres. Member, American Public Health Association B. Selected peer-reviewed publications (in chronological order). C. Research Support. CDC Department of Health and Human Services U50/CCU411492-08-3 May 1999 – May 2005 First Year Award $ Second Year Award $ Third Year Award $ Fourth Year Award $ Fifth year Award $983,757 A five-year award for Increasing the Knowledge and Skills of Black Students in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Occupational Safety and Health Role: Director W. K. Kellogg Foundation, P0105943 July 2003 – June 2004 $184,032 To promote a comprehensive academic community-based partnership that offers a new vision and new tools for eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. Role: Project Administrator NIH National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences September 2001 – September 2002 First year award $50,000 Support Graduate training program in epidemiology Role: Director NIH National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences September 2002-2004 First Year Award $50,000 Second Year Award $100,000 Third Year Award $100,000 Support community based participatory research projects in Environmental health and Human Rights Role: Director NIH National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities 1 R24 MD000500-01 September 2003 – September 2006 First year award $357,581 A three-year award for Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach, Research on Disparities in Health and Training (EXPORT) Role: Project Administrator National Institute for Medical Research of Tanzania May 2004 – May 2005 First year award $296,416 A three-year award to develop a International Bilateral Scientific Research and Training Exchange Program Role: Director
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Academic Public Health Caucus Poster Session I
See more of: Academic Public Health Caucus