RISE: Promoting Diversity Among Public Health Professionals

Public health education and research training of underrepresented populations is an important component of a comprehensive approach to promote health equity.

To describe student outcomes following participation in an innovative public health training cooperative agreement program funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Sixty-six graduate, professional, and recent baccalaureate degree students participated in the Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program. The majority of the students were from underrepresented populations (95%) and female (80%).

The Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program, a collaboration between a university-affiliated Institute and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, provided public health educational and research experiences during the summer and academic year.

Student presentations at national meetings, publications, and completion of degree programs.

The acceptance rate for student presentations at national scientific meetings was 89%. Almost 14 percent of the students were authors of peer-reviewed articles. More than one-third of the students (36%) completed their master's degree and 33% completed doctoral degrees during the 5 years of the program. Students used their Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program research to complete master's theses, practicum requirements, and dissertations. Ninety-five percent of the students pursued education or careers in public health and health care.