Background. During the past two decades, the maternal health crisis deepened throughout many economically challenged communities in the United States. The maternal mortality rate increased from 12.00 deaths (2000) to 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. For FY 2024, Congress appropriated $10 million to fund 16 research centers and a coordinating center in minority serving institutions to increase capacity to conduct maternal health research and address research workforce development. To prepare the next generation of maternal health researchers, the Maternal Health Research Coordinating Center (MHRCC) developed and implemented the MHRC Student Research Fellowship Mentoring Program.

Methods. The 16-funded maternal health research centers (19 sites) select graduate (master- and doctoral-levels) and undergraduate students in public health, health administration, clinical psychology, pharmacy, and associated degree programs to participate. Other eligibility criteria include maternal health research interest, completion of a research methods and statistics course, ability to commit to 20 hours per week with their research center and the MHRCC, and commit to one- to two-year research fellowship.

Results. In the 2024-2025 pilot year, 20 student research fellows, 8 doctoral, 10 master’s, and 2 undergraduates, participated from 17 MHRC sites. Each research center matched their research fellow with a faculty research mentor. The MHRC RC Fellowship Program implemented a structured maternal health research focused program that includes an 8-week summer program, two 12-week academic year components, professional development and training in research, analytic, and presentation skills, manuscript development and publishing, and abstract preparation. Outcome metrics and lessons learned will be presented.

Recently, diversity and inclusion efforts have faced increasing politicization, undermining attempts to pursue anti-racist policies. Amid this pushback, public health institutions must remain committed to addressing systematic inequalities and fostering inclusive environments.

The DISRUPT framework, consisting of seven interrelated components, was created to promote anti-racism in healthcare settings through critical reflection and intentional action against institutional racism.

1. Determine if whiteness is operating: Examining whether white experiences and values are positioned as the norm.
2. Impact, not intent: Assessing the actual effects of decisions rather than the intentions behind them.
3. State the threat to DEIJ values: Identifying ways in which policies or standards may undermine diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice
4. Reflect on personal biography and privilege: Understanding how one’s social identities shape perspective and biases
5. Understanding the risks: Recognizing potential challenges when advocating for change.
6. Power dynamics abound: Analyzing how power influences the ability to challenge systemic inequalities.
7. Take action: Encourage proactive steps toward policy and structural change

The DISRUPT model has been tested among 564 learners over 3 years in an academic medical center to demonstrate its usefulness in comfortably responding to realistic clinical examples of racism. This framework provides a set of considerations for how to recognize and respond to racism in its many forms while maintaining workplace relationships and navigating workplace power imbalances. Disrupting racism in healthcare settings requires accountability to the institution’s social mission to eliminate disparities.

The DISRUPT framework is best implemented in tandem with department-wide training to ensure collective engagement and institutional commitment to anti-racism.

Issues: Underrepresented PharmD students have unique needs and often report significant challenges to well-being and academic progression. These include lack of a sense of belonging, difficulty in professional identity formation, need for greater support, and frustration with non-representation among pharmacy faculty, preceptors, and mentors. They often report less favorable experiences, and are therefore less likely to recommend pharmacy programs to others with shared identity, posing a barrier to increasing diversity in the pharmacy workforce. A pilot concordant mentoring – the intentional engagement of Black PharmD students with Black pharmacists with shared identities and/or lived experience, as a support system, was implemented to enhance thriving for students.

Description: Black pharmacy students were matched with Black Minnesota-licensed pharmacists through a structured pairing process. Mentors provided personal and professional information, while students ranked desired mentor characteristics (gender, country of origin, career interests). The program had 19 mentor/mentee pairs who met periodically throughout the academic year, supplemented by large group events.

Lessons Learned: Mentors reported personal development, fulfillment, knowledge enhancement, and networking as benefits. Two-thirds of mentee respondents indicated the relationship positively influenced their PharmD experience. Mentees particularly valued guidance, advice, networking opportunities, community building, and support. They described mentors as "friendly," "enthusiastic," and "amazing," with the program meeting or exceeding expectations. Challenges included time constraints and communication barriers.

Recommendations: This approach extends beyond individual success to professional development and institutional transformation. Concordant mentoring can serve as a catalyst for diversifying the academic pipeline, promoting inclusive excellence, and cultivating a more representative pharmacy workforce.

Issues: Epilepsy affects nearly one percent of all U.S. adults and almost half a million children (CDC, 2024). And though there are numerous unaccounted individuals impacted by this chronic disease, on average, one in ten people will have a seizure during their lifetime (Epilepsy Foundation, 2022). As such, it is imperative that individuals are trained to respond effectively as they may need to assist someone experiencing a seizure. Moreover, given the disproportionate diagnosis of African Americans with epilepsy, unique ways to expand responder education should be implemented. One such avenue is through seizure recognition and first aid training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Description: In the fall semester of 2024, the Epilepsy Foundation’s Seizure Recognition and First Aid Certification curriculum was included in the syllabus of a health course at a rural HBCU. The course enhancement was established to equip students with seizure recognition and first aid skills and to expand professional development opportunities for future professionals by connecting them to a network of health-related resources.

Lessons Learned: Including the training within courses such as personal health and general first aid are simple additions to course syllabi. Students are motivated by earning a certification that can be used to enhance their digital (badges) and traditional professional portfolios.

Recommendations: To ensure that there is a certified individual in all classrooms, we plan to certify teachers during the faculty institute. Additionally, our university’s peer education program will extend its educational content to include seizure first aid to enhance campus safety.

ISSUE

Mental health is a growing public health crisis in the United States, with prevalence of depression and anxiety increasing significantly among Black college students (Lipson et al., 2022). Despite this, research on the mental health of students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is limited. To address this gap, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Healthy Minds Network (HMN), and Steve Fund (SF) have partnered to develop the first large-scale mental health study at HBCUs. This session will explore the formation of this collaboration, the development of research aims and tools, and the data-driven approaches used in evaluation.

DESCRIPTION

A participatory approach engaged HBCU leadership and key partners in developing the study measures and tools. Data analysis utilized a sample of 2,504 HBCU students from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS). Students reported their sociodemographic information (e.g., gender), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale; Spitzer et al., 2006), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Kroenke et al., 2010), and other related measures.

LESSONS LEARNED

Key challenges included engaging HBCUs and their students, addressing cultural considerations in mental health, and ensuring measurement tools were methodologically sound and culturally relevant. Strong institutional partnerships proved essential in overcoming barriers, refining research methods, and analyzing data through a participatory approach.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This study highlights the importance of data driven, culturally tailored mental health interventions at HBCUs to address students' unique needs. Insights from this collaborative approach can guide future mental health initiatives and serve as a model for future academic and non-profit collaborations.

Mental illness affects over 40 million Americans annually, with Black men experiencing higher rates of mental health challenges than other groups. However, Black men are significantly less likely to seek help due to stigma, mistrust of healthcare systems, and the impact of perceived racism.

To address these challenges, a Community Advisory Board (CAB) was formed, consisting of 12 Black male community members with lived experience of substance use disorders or prior incarceration. This self-led group convened for five structured meetings between November 2024 and March 2025 to identify key concerns, barriers, and pathways toward successful reintegration. The outcomes of these discussions contributed to the development of a transitional program designed for pilot testing.

Several key themes emerged from the CAB’s work. First, the importance of establishing an "accountability partner" and leveraging social and familial support was emphasized, as these relationships often deteriorate during periods of substance use and incarceration. Second, the group underscored that engagement must be individualized, as there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to reintegration. Third, continuity of care was identified as crucial, ensuring consistent support that fosters long-term mental and physical health outcomes.

This co-development process has led to the creation of a community-based, culturally tailored, and peer-led initiative designed to improve engagement and mental health outcomes for Black men. By centering the voices and experiences of those directly affected, the T.E.M.P.L.E program aims to address the unique barriers to mental health care faced by this population, promoting long-term recovery, resilience, and empowerment.

Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, posing significant public health risks. EJ communities in urban areas often experience disproportionately higher temperatures due to limited green spaces, heat-retaining infrastructure, and reduced access to cooling resources, contributing to elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths. To understand neighborhood-level heat disparities and inform strategies to mitigate extreme heat impacts, a community-based participatory heat mapping initiative was conducted in Chicago. Methods: A community planning team led the initiative to ensure community priorities guided the study. The team identified locations prone to extreme heat or offering relief, and developed driving routes for volunteers to follow on Activation Day, one of the hottest days of the year. The effort prioritized areas facing inequities. Results: Before Activation Day, community scientists and volunteers were trained to measure ambient temperature and humidity using car-mounted sensors. On Activation Day, 100 community scientists and volunteers collected data. Data collection spanned all 77 Chicago communities, coordinated through five community hubs, with measurements taken in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Preliminary findings revealed that ambient temperatures in South Side communities were over 20°F higher than in North Side communities, indicating that systemic inequities in urban planning, infrastructure investment, and environmental policies may contribute to disproportionate heat exposure in these neighborhoods. Conclusions: These results will inform the development of a heat vulnerability index, aimed at addressing the needs of communities most at risk from extreme heat and guiding targeted interventions to reduce heat-related health risks.

Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, are leading global health concerns, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries where access to treatment is limited. The Wa Municipal area of Ghana, an underserved region, faces significant barriers to specialized healthcare. This study examines the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia using data from a community-based health screening program to inform potential interventions.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 459 participants in Wa Municipal, Ghana, using data from a July 2019 community screening program. Participants provided demographic and health information, while biometric measurements, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol, were analyzed using SPSS.

Results: Over two-thirds (68.41%) of participants had never undergone an annual health assessment. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of obesity (30.58%), hyperlipidemia (19.75%), and hypertension (22.34%) compared to men (7.19%, 1.27%, and 11.98%, respectively). While diabetes prevalence was similar between genders, random blood glucose levels indicated higher hyperglycemia in men (13.77%) than women (8.25%). While rates of NCDs were relatively higher among women, they were also more likely to be on treatment.

Conclusions: Unlike Western trends, our findings reveal higher rates of undiagnosed NCDs, particularly among women with overall rates comparable to, or higher than national, regional and global averages. Targeted interventions promoting routine checkups, early detection, and long-term management are critical to reducing complications and fatalities associated with NCDs in underserved populations in places such as the Wa Municipal area where access to critical health services is limited.

Issues: Black men experience disproportionate rates of oral and pharyngeal cancers (OPCs) and face barriers related to misinformation, delayed diagnosis, and mistrust in healthcare settings. Despite their frontline role, many dentists do not routinely discuss or screen for OPCs, citing discomfort, lack of training, limited clinical time, and concerns about patient reactions. Currently, no guidelines exist for how to effectively engage Black men in OPC conversations within dental settings. To address this gap, we developed a culturally tailored OPC communication tool (COPC) using a community-engaged approach and assessed its perceived utility among licensed dental providers.

Description: Up to 15 dentists in Cook County, Illinois were introduced to the COPC tool, which includes a training video, infographic, and script with evidence-based references. Semi-structured interviews lasting 30–45 minutes were conducted with general dentists from the UI Health catchment area to explore their attitudes toward the tool, its usability, and its impact on their confidence in discussing OPCs with Black male patients.

Lessons Learned: Dentists shared insights based on their professional and lived experiences, offering key guidance on enhancing the cultural relevance and practical application of the COPC tool. Participants emphasized the need for race- and gender-specific resources to better support preventive communication.


Recommendations: Oral cancer prevention strategies targeting Black men should integrate dental provider perspectives and include culturally appropriate communication tools. Incorporating such tools into clinical workflows may increase provider self-efficacy and reduce disparities in OPC outcomes.

Keywords: oral cancer, Black men, oral health disparities, dental communication, community-engaged research