Rates of cancer, heart disease and diabetes are at least two times higher among African Americans and other minority groups than among Caucasians-and a new program at Saint Louis University School of Public Health is gearing up to tackle these disparities.
One of only two of its kind in the nation and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the "Eliminating Health Disparities Graduate Traineeship" prepares African American graduate students for careers in public health that focus on the prevention of chronic disease in minority communities.
"Improving the health of minority groups is key to the future health of the United States as a whole," said Darcell Scharff, Ph.D., assistant professor of community health at Saint Louis University School of Public Health and the program¹s coordinator. Dr. Scharff said that by 2050, racial and ethnic minorities-African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders-will account for nearly half of the U.S. population.
Brandie Adams of Sacramento, Calif., is one of six recipients of this highly competitive traineeship. "As an African American, I recognize the ill state that our community is in," she said. "I am a strong advocate of collectivism, and I believe every African American has a responsibility to contribute to improving the health of our communities. Public health and this program are the engines that I am going to use to carry out this responsibility."
Dr. Scharff agrees that changing the public health workforce to more accurately reflect the U.S. population can help conquer the problem of health disparities. "Communities may be more receptive to people who they feel know something about them-with whom they can relate better," she said. Dr. Scharff notes that the traineeship will prepare students to become public health practitioners, as well as public health researchers. "Everyone looks at the world through their own eyes and their own life experiences. If people are seeing things through similar lenses, we can get a clearer picture of the problems faced by certain groups," said Dr. Scharff.
"We won¹t just be able to interact closely with fellow African Americans, but also hopefully get more cooperation from civic and political leaders," said St. Louisan Sharyn Parks, another student beginning the traineeship this fall. "We have a more vested interest in the needs of our community." Parks plans to go into public health research, and she knows this program will help her achieve her career goals. "This is an opportunity to make a direct impact on what¹s guiding public health," she said. "I¹m especially looking forward to the public policy portion of the traineeship, which will give me unique access to state, county and city health officials, because of their strong relationships with the School of Public Health faculty and staff."
Eliminating health disparities is a top priority of Healthy People 2010, the prevention agenda of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The DHHS has selected six areas of disparity known to affect multiple racial and ethnic minority groups at all stages of life: infant mortality, cancer screening and management, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV infection/AIDS and immunizations.
"At the School of Public Health, we concentrate on behaviors that will prevent chronic diseases," Dr. Scharff said. "So there is already well-funded ongoing research here that closely matches the objectives of Healthy People 2010 and will provide excellent learning opportunities for the trainees."
The traineeship provides an 85 percent tuition scholarship, a monthly stipend and book allowance, health insurance coverage and travel to an annual scientific meeting. Students complete two research rotations, one policy rotation, and carry out an independent research project in addition to completing their degree requirements. "This is more than a typical scholarship," Dr. Scharff said. "We have recruited highly qualified students. We are expecting a lot from the students and know their contributions will be great."
STATISTICS ON HEALTH DISPARITIES:
- African Americans have a 70 percent higher rate of diabetes than Caucasians.
- Racial and ethnic populations have higher rates of hypertension, tend to develop hypertension at an earlier age and are less likely to undergo treatment to control their high blood pressure.
- The rate of infant mortality in African Americans is 2.5 times higher than in Caucasians.
- Racial and ethnic minorities account for more than half of all AIDS cases.
Contact: Jennifer Frakes
Phone: 314-977-8018
e-mail: frakesjc@slu.edu
Editors Note: Matthew W. Kreuter, Ph.D., associate professor of community health, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, is director of the Eliminating Health Disparities traineeship program. To arrange an interview with Dr. Kreuter, Dr. Scharff or one of the students in the traineeship, please call Jennifer Frakes, health sciences center public relations at 314-977-8018.