Using a pipeline approach to address MCH workforce shortages and health disparities

The US is struggling with persistent racial and ethnic health disparities in all Healthy People 2010/2020 focus areas including MCH. Diversifying the healthcare workforce is seen as a key strategy to addressing the severe health disparities that exist among minority populations. Although the undergraduate level is an excellent time to nurture future interest in pursuing a career in the MCH professions, few programs focus on the beginning of the pathway/pipeline, the undergraduate student. For the past five years Howard University's Pathways to MCH Professions program, one of four MCHB pipeline training programs, has successfully addressed this critical gap by implementing a program that increased students' interest in MCH public health professions (i.e., health education, pediatrics, public health nursing, social worker, speech language pathology, etc). The program, located at one of the nation's premier HBCUs, targets financially disadvantaged underrepresented undergraduate students and provides training and mentoring (shadowing and field practicum experiences) that promotes the development of a culturally diverse and representative health care workforce. The program, which contains a number of components that are replicable at other undergraduate institutions, has been successful at encouraging students to enter public health with 21% of its former students currently enrolled in a graduate program and 9% enrolled in a MD program. Pipeline programs not only address health care workforce shortages but also expose future public health professions to concepts that many State Title V Officers have noted as the greatest needs for training in their departments such as family centered and culturally competent care.