Never too early for public health

Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) at Boston University is a preparatory program designed to aid potential first-generation college and low-income Boston Public High School students achieve their goal of admission to an undergraduate program. The importance of including Biostatistics in the UBMS curriculum was identified in 2008, as a means to introduce participants to biostatistics and public health. Innovative hands-on modules on key topics in Biostatistics were developed and delivered by doctoral students in biostatistics in collaboration with faculty, focusing on the active participation of students. Sessions included fun and engaging activities aimed at providing a clear understanding of fundamental concepts of applied biostatistics using real-life, relevant public health examples. Modules illustrated descriptive statistics, application and interpretation of probability, and concepts of estimation and hypothesis testing. To promote interdisciplinary thinking and learning, applications were selected to highlight other core areas of public health including epidemiology, environmental health, health law and policy, and social and behavioral sciences. At the end of the sessions, students were able to interpret probabilities and understand the concepts of sampling error and chance. Programs such as these, targeted toward high school students, are a first step towards exposure to public health, which may pique their interest in public health as a field.