A Pipeline to Increase Public Health Diversity: Describing the Academic Enrichment Components of the Summer Public Health Scholars Program

A public health workforce that reflects the increasing diversity of U.S. population is critical for promotion and to eliminate persistent disparities. Academic institutions must provide appropriate education training increase in professions improve efforts culturally competent care programs most vulnerable communities. Reaching into existing talent pool diverse candidates at undergraduate level a promising avenue building pipeline advanced professional careers field health. The Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP) Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) 10-week summer internship program with mission knowledge interest biomedical sciences. Funded by Centers Disease Control Prevention’s (CDC) Undergraduate Programs, sponsored CDC’s Office Minority Equity, SPHSP aims underrepresented students graduate providing mentorship, academic enrichment, development, field-based placements. uniquely positioned offer scholars exposes them core components through joint effort all four CUIMC schools: health, dentistry, nursing, medicine. Here, we describe program’s enrichment components, which multifaceted opportunities. We discuss impacts on student outcomes lessons learned developing refining model.