Health Disparities Research LRP

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH IS HELPING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Health Disparities Research LRP is to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals to research careers that focus on minority health or other health disparity issues. Funding for this LRP is provided through the NIH's National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), which ensures that at least 50 percent of the awards are made to health professionals who are members of identified health disparity populations.

Learn more at http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/health_disparities.aspx

Reflections from Kimberly Lloyd, Spring 2010 Intern

During my time as an intern, I assisted Susan with analyzing data from the 2009 RAM clinic. Examining demographic data and health concerns provided an opportunity to assess whether the clinic met the needs of the individuals in the area.

In working on the report, analyzing the qualitative and quantitative data required coding and use of SPSS software to determine correlations. As a result, the feedback from participants provided insight for future clinics. Overall, the feedback was positive in nature and the participants expressed the common sentiment of needing assistance for medical and dental resources.

Analyzing the data was a learning experience, in reading many of the response from the participants, the issues that I often read about in studies and journals became “real.” In turn, working on this project validated my decision to pursue my Master’s in Sociology. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have worked on this project.

After completing the report, I began researching indicators for use in the Health Equity report. I am very interested in the findings that will be included in the upcoming version of the report. I found the research from various other sources regarding global health disparities fascinating. Furthermore, conversations with Ken and Rex planted the seed to consider Demography programs. I hope that I will begin to complete applications in the next few months in preparation for a PhD program.

I appreciate the opportunity to have worked on these projects and hope to remain in contact with everyone as I continue on my journey. Please know that conversations with everyone have been informative and I could not have asked for a better internship. I feel very confident that I have learned a lot and I attribute that to the knowledgeable people with whom I have the opportunity to meet this semester.

Kimberly Lloyd
Spring 2010 Intern

Reflecting on My Summer with the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy

Finding solutions to health inequities presents a daunting task: improving the health of the most disadvantaged and marginalized populations, the groups that are left behind. This is the mission of the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy (OMHPHP), which seeks to advance health equity for all Virginians.

Sadly, this advance often seems to be moving at a snail’s pace, or occasionally not at all. Many health inequities persist in spite of the best efforts of many public health workers. In the face of harsh realities, progress is sometimes all too slow to come. It can be discouraging, but I hold out hope. Health equity is being advanced and agencies like the OMHPHP are leading the charge.

I find inspiration in a curious source: Latin American writer Roberto Bolaño, author of the novels The Savage Detectives and 2666, among other works. Those familiar with Bolaño’s work will understand why I acknowledge him as an unexpected source of inspiration. His writing forces readers to look deep into the abyss of the post-modern experience, one that is frequently filled with death, madness and injustice. But according to Bolaño, despite the apparent futility, we must confront the horrors of our reality in order to change it. In his essay “Illness + Literature = Illness,” he writes:

“While we search for the antidote or the medicine to cure us, the new, that which can only be found in the unknown, we must continue…even knowing [the search] will lead us into the abyss, which, as it happens, is the only place we can find the cure.”

Perhaps my reading of Bolaño’s dark writing is overly optimistic. But to me, the search for “the new,” the cure for what ails us, is an act of great value and beauty. Only by facing up to the injustices of the world—health inequity among them—can we expect to impact them.

This is exactly what the staff of the OMHPHP does every day—along with millions of other public health professionals around the world—as they continue their own search for the new, working to advance health equity. I hope that in some way I contributed to this advance with my work this summer.

No matter, for the search for the new continues. One day soon, I am certain, we will find it.

Chris Gunther is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Hispanic Studies and Health and Societies with a concentration in Public Health. This summer with OMHPHP he completed a language needs assessment for Virginia’s health districts, setting guidelines for how districts should work with limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. His interests include Latin America and Latino populations, health and development, and health inequities.

Meet Our Interns

John Buchwald

John is a second year Masters of Public Health (MPH) student at Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Health. He teaches Anatomy and Physiology at Centura College and works as a massage therapist on the weekends. During his spare time, he spends most of his time at the beach, going to ethnic restaurants (with a particular weakness for Thai, Japanese and Mexican cuisine), camping in the mountains with friends or drinking coffee on his balcony.

Within the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy (OMHPHP), John serves on the marketing committee of the Health Equity Conference. He has an interest in addressing social injustices as they relate to health, with a particular interest in Native American, as well as gay and lesbian populations.

Jason Emejuru

Jason Emejuru is a rising second year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from VCU as well. Jason joined the OMHPHP to gain a better understanding of the state department's role in addressing the inequities in health across the state. He is currently assisting the programs, marketing, and scholarships sub-committees for the Health Equity Conference. He would like to get involved in the office’s community-based participatory approaches to combat health inequities.

His current interests include pediatrics/psychiatry, critical education/school reform, mentoring, slam poetry and traveling.

Tiffany Ford

Tiffany Ford is currently enrolled in a dual-degree JD/MPA program at the respective institutions of University of Richmond School of Law and Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her undergraduate studies in Film and Television Production at Boston University in Boston, MA.

This summer Tiffany is working with the OMHPHP on its regulations and policy recommendations. She is excited to be interning with our office and looks forward to learning from the wealth of knowledge and experience exhibited by her fellow co-workers.

Tamara Scott

Tamara Scott is a second year MPH student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia and is from Lynchburg, Virginia. Tamara’s interests include health disparities and mental health. As an OMHPHP intern, Tamara is developing health equity presentations for communities and assisting with the Mosby Court partnership.

Molly Massey

Molly Massey is enrolled in the Community and Public Health Leadership track of the Master of Nursing Program at the University of Virginia (UVA). After completing her undergraduate degree in Nursing at UVA, Molly worked for eight years in labor and delivery units in the Richmond area, where she developed an interest in social justice and health policy.

Molly joined the Department of Evaluation and Quality at the United Network for Organ Sharing in 2003 and is currently working as a Policy Compliance Analyst. During her summer internship in the Division of Health Equity, Molly is assiting with a Community Based Participatory Approach project in Southwest Virginia.