Saturday, May 4, 2024
5/4/2024
The goal of this proposal is to support the long-term investment in a diverse public health workforce through the development and implementation of the CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS) Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health (Pitt Public Health). The program will nationally recruit underrepresented minority undergraduate students and recent graduates into public health careers by addressing disparities, justice- and equity topics inside and outside the classroom with focus on three domains – maternal and child health, environmental justice, and climate and health. During the 8-week program, CUPS scholars will participate in didactic and experiential learning opportunities at the University and in public health settings throughout the City of Pittsburgh. The objectives of the Pitt Public Health CUPS Program are to: 1. Recruit a diverse cohort of up to 50 participants per year for five years using a national multidisciplinary and participatory process 2. Select, onboard, and maintain relationships with internship placement sites representing a broad range of professional opportunities in public health practice for participants 3. Develop and deploy mentor trainings 4. Implement the 8-week CUPS program for participants 5. Engage alumni of the program and facilitate networking and ongoing continuing education opportunities A comprehensive program evaluation, focused on both process and outcomes, will be conducted to maximize the program’s effectiveness, and demonstrate its impact. Pitt Public Health has longstanding, substantial experience in recruiting, training, retaining, and sustaining a public health workforce, as well as substantial experience reducing health disparities, improving social determinants of health, and advancing health equity. The proposal leverages the school’s experience implementing undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as non-degree summer institutes and internship programs. The proposed Pitt Public Health CUPS Program has the strongest support from University of Pittsburgh leadership, including the Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences (see LOS). We are partnering with the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) and many other local colleges and universities (see Letters of Support). PCHE is a consortium of the eleven Middle States accredited colleges and universities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Membership includes Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, La Roche College, Pittsburgh Technical College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park University, Robert Morris University, and the University of Pittsburgh. We will target those schools with high % Black/African American and Hispanic students within PCHE. Our national recruitment strategy includes Region 3 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) schools, particularly the HBCUs and HSIs in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Our recruitment partners include Lincoln University, one of Pennsylvania’s two HBCUs, Meharry Medical College, an HBCU in Nashville, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS), a national network of universities whose mission is to advance the Latinx academic health workforce. Our placement sites are equally diverse (Table 8) and include community- and faith-based organizations, clinical placements, local health department, environment- and climate-related learning sites, and Pitt Public Health. A multidisciplinary team of investigators representing the breadth and depth of public health in general, and the three focus areas, specifically, will lead the Pitt Public Health CUPS Program. The team will be supported by an engaged External Advisory Board.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
