Implementation of a health disparities curriculum for minority high school students

BACKGROUND As disparities in health continue to exist, attention has turned to increasing the numbers of minorities in the health field to improve the overall health of minority communities. A report by the Institute of Medicine speaks to the linkage between a shortage of minorities in health care professions and diminished health outcomes in minority populations (Smedley, Stith & Nelson, 2002). The Brooklyn Health Disparities Center (BHDC) developed and implemented a health disparities summer curriculum to increase students' awareness of health disparities and its impact on health outcomes.

METHODS In 2010, the BHDC recruited 51 students from 11 high schools across Brooklyn neighborhoods for its four week health disparities program. The students were provided with training and work experience related to health disparities in the context of local communities. Students were surveyed pre and post program implementation.

RESULTS Data collected from the students (pre & post surveys) indicated that the students' level of knowledge of health disparities in general increased (by up to 18.7%) as did their level of interest in (minority) health professions (from 52.1% of those indicating that they were extremely/very interested in a minority health career in the pre-survey to 70.8% in the post-survey).

CONCLUSION The study suggests that providing students with health disparities training and internships at community-based organizations increases their level of interest in health related careers and in providing health related services to their communities.