Need for minorities in public health

Minority populations including African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and certain segments of the nation's Asian/Pacific Islander population, are not present in significant numbers in our public health workforce. While there are some outstanding minorities in this career path, access to a health profession remains unequal for minorities. To develop better career access for minorities in the public health field, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) – a national non-profit organization with a focus on improving public health infrastructure and protecting and promote the public's health - is collaborating with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) - a prominent Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and have developed and implemented a program designed to increase the number of minority undergraduate students who pursue a career in public health. From conducting research to completing online courses, the computer is a major tool for teaching and learning. TRAIN, a unique web-based learning management solution for public health training is an effective mechanism for introducing minority undergraduate students to careers in public health. With over 15,5 00 courses provided by over 3,175 course providers, TRAIN offers introductory to advanced level training and is a convenient way for learners to access training at their convenience. The activities conducted in this pilot project were designed to help undergraduate students access, use, and benefit from public health training.

This session will discuss the importance of increasing the number of minorities in the public health workforce, and how utilizing online training through TRAIN can serve as a motivator.