CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program and Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship: Exposure of Undergraduate, Graduate Students, and Postgraduates to Minority Health, Public Health, and Health Professions

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CDC’s mission involves collaborating to create the expertise, information, and tools that people, and communities need to protect their health through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. Each of CDC′s component organizations undertakes these activities in conducting their specific programs. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports both the long-term investment in a well-trained public health and health care workforce and in the diversity and cultural competence of public health professionals. A diverse public health workforce and greater representation of racial and ethnic minority populations in key public health occupational categories is a cornerstone to the elimination of health disparities but remains one of the most challenging of Healthy People 2030 goals to attain. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, while African Americans and Hispanics are the largest racial and ethnic minority populations, they are also the most severely underrepresented in medicine. 2020 US Census data indicate that the Hispanic/Latino population (18.7%) and Black/African American population (12.1%) together make up 30.8% of the total US population. However, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Hispanic/Latino population (5.8%) and Black/African American population (5.0%) made up 10.8% of all active US-based physicians in 2018 (the most current year for which such data were available). According to 2020 US Census data, the Native American and Alaskan Native population makes up 1.1% of the US population; however, as reported by the AAMC in 2018, they represented 0.3% of all active US based physicians. These diversity shortfalls continue to lessen the capacity and capabilities of the public health workforce to improve health in communities. For more information on the public health workforce, see the NOFO resources guide: https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/programs/resources/index.html. For over 40 years, OMHHE has collaborated with educational institutions, including those serving historically underserved populations, to increase the knowledge, diversity, and skills of students in public health through internship and fellowship programs. The major outcome of this program is the increased awareness of the broad field preparation requirements and career opportunities for public health professionals among undergraduate students, community college and university graduates, Master-level graduate students, and recent postgraduates, particularly, but not limited to, those from historically underserved and socially disadvantaged populations, such as those from racial and ethnic minority groups, persons with a physical disability, low English proficiency, first-generation college students, and members of a sexual and gender minority group, as well as those in geographically underserved areas of the United States and its territories. For more information on CDC’s efforts to support these programs, see the NOFO resources guide: https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/programs/resources/index.html.

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