Friday, April 18, 2025
4/18/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Dr. Gregory Paveza Chicago State University. 9505 South King Drive, BHS 607, Chicago IL 60628 773 995 3987, gpaveza@csu.edu Not only is there a shortage of professionals ready to step into the quickly growing health sciences fields, but there is also a shortage of diverse candidates. For example: In Illinois, 8.4% of nurses are African American and 4.5% are Hispanic or Latinx. Nationwide, 3.1% of occupational therapists are African American and 3.2% are Hispanic or Latinx. This under representation contributes to ongoing shortages in the fields, missed opportunities for Black and Hispanic and Latinx communities to access careers that are growing and well paying, and lower quality of care for patients of color. The ratio of health science professionals who are people of color to patients of color matters: implicit bias is lessened, more time is spent together, and other indicators of care quality improve. Chicago State University (CSU) is a driving force in diversifying who is able to step in health sciences fields. CSU is Illinois’ only four-year Predominantly Black Institution as designated by the U.S. Department of Education. In the last academic year, 70% of our students are Black and 8% are Latinx. Beyond educating diverse students, the institution has received support to enhance our educational facilities. CSU also has strong health sciences programs that includes nursing, occupational therapy, and pharmacy. As part of Rebuild Illinois, the state’s multi-year infrastructure package, Governor Pritzker appropriated and funded the renovation of an existing building on CSU’s campus to build an inter professional healthcare simulation lab and space for the College of Health Sciences and College of Pharmacy. This investment will create state-of-the-art simulation labs for acute care, emergency care and labor and delivery, while expanding a basic skills laboratory, pediatric laboratory, along with a full apartment for home care. This inter-professional health care simulation will bring together health information management, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy and public health students together in addressing the needs of patients, families and communities. This shared space and related programming will enhance the collaboration across health care programs and enhance research that addresses health disparities and needs of medically under served communities. CSU has a long history of producing a high number of African American and Hispanic health professionals across the disciplines who return to work in health professional shortage areas and medically under served communities. To make operational the space, a significant investment of $450,000 is required. This investment will support real-life training experiences through technology, specialized manikins and standardized patient environments. This training will result in health practitioners who are caring and hold cutting-edge knowledge.
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).