https://www.mediafire.com/file/0jw6xvmgqtu44e6/Cynthia+Carter_Responses+[10-18-2023].pdf/file Interviewing: Activities in Progress to Reduce Health Disparities Report[WLO: 2] [CLOs: 2, varies depe

Respon ses to the Elimination of Social Inequalities that Directly Impact Health Assign ment Submitt ed by Pamela L. Car ter -Nolan, Ph.D., MPH Director , MPH P rogram Howard U niversity Here are a few potential questions we could discuss during the interview: • Describe their program, research, policy, or funding as it relates to the elimination of social inequalities that directly impact h ealth. The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the core professional degree globally recognized for public health practice. Howard's MPH will prepare yo u, like many of our graduate alumni, for leadership roles in public health education, research, policy, and administration. Our MPH graduates are employed by state and local health departments, research institutes, nonprofits, and private sector agencies. Others pursue further graduate or clinical study. Areas of research strength include individual, social and structural determinants of health, biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy analysis, maternal and child health, environmental health, global heal th, and health communication. Our program offers a convenient (evening) class schedule, and you can earn the degree in 18 months. An integrated learning experience completed in the second year, and a culminating Capstone project, allow you to gain practical public he alth experience and integrate knowledge from your coursework to address an issue or question of public health relevance. As a student in Washington, D.C., you are a short distance away from leading public health organizations like the Pan American Health O rganization, American Public Health Association, Public Health Foundation, Public Health Institute , and several local health departments in the District, Maryland , and Virginia (DMV) . During one ’s time in the MPH program, students learn to use quantitative and qualitative analysis approaches to interpret evidence that informs best practi ces in designing, implementing, and evaluating health programs and policies. Students work closely with practicing faculty who advance public health for underserved communities through meaningful partnerships with community stakeholders and with national and global organizations. The s tudents interested in careers at the intersection of social services or community pha rmacy and public health may pursue one of the dual degrees, Master of Social Work (MSW)/MPH or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD/MPH). The goal of the Howar d University MPH prog ram is to prepare its graduates to assume leadership positions to improve the health status of the glo bal population, with a specific focus on the elimination and of racial and ethnic disparities and in equities. This theme of addressing health dispar ities and inequities experienced by people of color and the underserved runs throughout the MPH curriculum and research initi atives . There is a specific course called, Health Disparities, Inequities, Inequalities, and Public Health Course . During th is course , students examine health inequities; how race, ethnicity and health intersect; explore the nature of racial and ethnic categories; 2 and learn about current US demographic trends. The s tudents also explore approaches for addressing health inequity, including health care inequities. They are encouraged to pay critical a ttention to the multiple pathways by which race, and ethnicity enter the body, and how they lead to negative health consequences for people of color in the United States. The program also has faculty engaged in several external research initia tives that focus on addressing health disparitie s, in equities, and inequaliti es. These ini tiatives r ange from training and work fo rce development to health education and clinical research . A few selected examples are described below. • Public Health Information and Technology (PHIT4DC) Grant [funded by the Office of the National Coord inator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ] is to create a consortium aimed at identifying and educating individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in public health, informatics, and data science over the next four years. • Diversity in Cancer Research Institutional Development Grant [funded by the American Cancer Society ] is to enhance the pipeline of cancer research disparities for MPH students and early -stage investigators (ESIs), and mid - career investigators. This is a collaboration between the Howard University Cancer Center and the Master of Public Health Prog ram. • The Cancer Research Education Program (C -REP) [funded by NIH /National Cancer Institu te] is the component of the Howard -Georgetown Collaborative Partne rship in Cancer R es earch (fund ed by NCI ) designed to provide formal training activities are supported, ai ming to expose a new generation of young scientists to cancer research and disparities, and encourage them to pursue careers that address cancer. • Advancing Health Literacy Evaluation Gr ant [funded by DC Health Department ] systematically assess es the development, implementation, and effectiveness of the advancing health literacy intervention. This participatory/collaborative evaluation uses a mixed methodological approach to address both process and outcome evaluation questions while engaging the various stakeholder group s targeted by the intervention (the Community -based Organizations and their clients ). o How are they funded? 3 Although the prog ram obtains some institutional support the research initiatives are funded through external grants (ACS, N IH, ONC , DC He alth Depart ment, etc. ) o Who do they fund? Students and Res earc h I nvestigators o How much funding do they provide for these social inequality programs? A substantial amount. o What is the population affected or current focus in social inequalities interventions? People of colo r and the underserved, particular ly Black s livi ng in the Washington , DC metrop olitan area. o What do they do with these programs? These programs are designed to educate , train , a nd service individuals interested in eit her cancer rese arch, health litera cy, public health information and technology. o How do they make certain the program is reaching those in the greatest need? The initiatives are designed to address health disparities and inequities . The various grant (and programmati c) reporting and tracking mechanism s (e.g., annual reports, quarterly meetings, annu al site visits) ensure that the goals and objectives of the grants are being met and the target population is being reached . • Explain what they think the contributors are to the ine quality being discussed. The contributors to the inequality are those factors that contribute to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities . Inequality can manifest in various forms, such as income inequality, racial inequality, gender inequality, or wealth inequality, among others. The factors that contribute most are historical , structural, socioeconomic, cultural, and soci al, geographic, political , technological , and environmental . These contribut ing factors have a great impact individu ally and often interact and reinforce each othe r, creating complex and multifaceted forms of inequality. 4 • Discuss their operating conceptual model of how they expect the things they do to address the inequality. • Describe what they think are some limiting factors in achieving their goals. One of the key limiting factors is limited financial resources . • Share when they expect to see results. • Illustrat e some of the successes to date. To date we have made a great impa ct on enhancing the public health workforce . • Can you provide specific examples of ongoing projects or initiatives within your organization or in the broader field of public health that are actively addressing social inequalities? What are the key objectives and strate gies of these initiatives? Some of the init iatives are described abo ve. • In your experience, what are some of the main challenges or barriers that public health organizations face when attempting to tackle issues like racism, sexism, poverty, and social exclusion? How do you see these challenges affec ting the success of initiatives aimed at eliminating social inequalities? Public health organizations face several challenges and barriers when attempting to tackle issues like racism, sexism, poverty, and social exclusion, and these challenges can significantly affect the success of initi atives aimed at eliminating social inequalities. Some of thes e c hallenges include: resistance to change f rom individuals and institutions that benefit from the status quo ; political and policy barriers that hinder progress, especially if there is a lac k of commitment to address the issues at the g overnmental level ; cultural and social norms ( belief in traditional gender roles limits opportunities for wo men) ; lack of or limited access to (qu ality) health care services ; community engagement – es tab lishing meaning ful partnerships and co llaborations that include the communities most impacte d in the decision -making ; and long -term commitment and sustainability which results in lack of support over time . These challenges make it hard to design, implement, and maintain effective interventions.