Building a diverse public health pathway to reducing health disparities: Future Public Health Leaders Program

The growing undergraduate public health movement in the nation is exciting; yet, concerns linger over the persistently inadequate numbers of racial and/or ethnic minority public health practitioners. Numerous studies have shown racial and ethnic minority health professionals are more likely to work in underserved largely minority communities. We believe that an increase in the diversity of the public health workforce will help to address the urgent need for reductions in health disparities. The Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP) is one of four CDC Undergraduate Public Health Summer Programs (CUPS) whose goal is to foster knowledge of, excitement about, and commitment to health equity and understanding of public health and health disparities while increasing underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students pursuing public health education and training. Each summer since 2012, the FPHLP admits 50 students from the U.S., U.S. territories and Freely Associated States to participate in a 10-week summer program. The program includes public health and career mentorship, hands-on and practical field experience, a curriculum with a learning structure that includes didactic learning, skill building workshops, and field experiences. Based on the post-program survey conducted, 85% of participants agreed that they could list the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and health disparities among local, regional, and global populations; and 94% of student participants agreed or strongly agreed that the FPHLP increased their understanding of health disparities. Post-program involvement with participants via social media further supports students’ decisions to pursue a career (73%) or graduate education in public health (82%).