SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Receives $1.5 Million Grant for Public Health Scholarship Program

Strategic Insights -

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has announced that its Downstate Public Health Scholarship Program (DPHSP) will receive a $1.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program aims to diversify the public health workforce, develop an interdisciplinary and health equity-focused public health seminar series, and launch an equity-centered student-tailored mentoring program called PROGRESS. The program will also increase the capacity of public health systems through COVID-19 and health equity field (APEx) opportunities and Downstate-wide activities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DPHSP will train and provide field placements and scholarships for 255 students over the course of three years, addressing the issue of public health worker shortages in underserved neighborhoods.
  • The program will help to diversify the public health workforce, with a focus on recruiting, training, and retaining underrepresented minority (URM) master's and doctoral public health students.
  • DPHSP will develop an interdisciplinary and health equity-focused public health seminar series, launch an equity-centered student-tailored mentoring program called PROGRESS, and increase the capacity of public health systems through COVID-19 and health equity field (APEx) opportunities and Downstate-wide activities.
  • The program will offer scholarships to offset the financial burdens that challenge students, including those from underrepresented minority backgrounds.
  • DPHSP will provide field placement sites for 85 trainees per year, expanding strategic partnerships beyond the current agencies.

Statistics:

  • The $1.5 million grant from the HRSA will be used to support the Downstate Public Health Scholarship Program over a period of three years.
  • The program will train and provide field placements and scholarships for 255 students.
  • DPHSP will provide scholarships to offset the financial burdens that challenge students, including those from underrepresented minority backgrounds.
  • The program will offer a total of 18 field placement sites for 85 trainees per year.
  • The Downstate Public Health Scholarship Program aims to address the issue of public health worker shortages in underserved neighborhoods.

Sources:

  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Press Release
  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Website