A health workforce diversity program: Planning, development and implementation of a community-lead health workforce development program tailored to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students in Southern California

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities (NHPI) communities are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases, and the lack of bilingual and bicultural health providers inhibits access to and utilization of services. NHPIs account for less than 1% of the health workforce and most tend to be older with few younger NHPIs seeking a health care career locally. Furthermore, the low retention rates of NHPIs in educational institutions decreases of the number of NHPIs entering the health workforce. The NHPI community in Southern California collaborated to develop the Pacific Islander Health Careers Pipeline Program (PIHCPP) to increase the number of NHPIs who provide health care, conduct research, advocate and develop best practices for decreasing health disparities. A needs assessment explored the risk and protective factors influencing NHPI student educational success and lead to a program that includes: educational workshops; a summer research internship project; community service learning; and a mentorship program providing psychosocial support. A key component is the research internship funded by ARRA/NCI funds that supports hands-on engagement in community based participatory research. PIHCPP also focuses on local systems to better serve NHPIs by creating partnerships with educational institutions, financial aid programs, and student associations. A college preparation program is being piloted at a high school. In 2009, seven NHPI youth interned with researchers at academic and community based organizations involved in NHPI cancer-related disparities. In conclusion, decreasing health disparities and achieving equity in health care is a social justice concern and requires diversifying the health workforce.