Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101615

Jeff Oxendine, MPH, MBA, Health Career Connection, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 and Arnab Mukherjea, MPH, School of Public Health; University of California, Berkeley, Health Career Connection / South Asian Public Health Association, PO Box 5823, Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-649-1425, amukherjea@healthcareers.org.

Objective: To describe a program emphasizing support and exposure for undergraduate students in preparing a diverse and skilled public health workforce in context of eliminating disparities. Context: The educational pipeline for entry into public health professions is poorly defined and provides limited exposure, especially for undergraduates. In contrast, clinical career preparation is delineated clearly. Consequently, there exists a lack of knowledge about the scope of careers available for students aspiring to improve health among diverse populations. Methods: Health Career Connection (HCC) is a national organization committed to empowering students to pursue public health careers. HCC provides experiences in varied health disciplines through internship placements in reputable organizations dedicated to improving health of diverse communities. HCC maximizes exposure by facilitating workshops and expanding interns' networks of leaders and organizations via site visits and attendance at professional convenings. HCC fosters an environment which encourages interns to develop innovative solutions to public health challenges. Results: Demand for acceptance was high; 10% of applicants were selected. Almost all students reported an invaluable experience. 95+% entered the health workforce or matriculated into graduate training in public health with an emphasis on improving population health or expressed motivation to do so. Conclusions: Earlier exposure to public health careers in the academic pipeline largely influences aspirations of “pre-health” students to enter such fields. With the workforce largely unrepresentative of communities they serve, capacity building of existing programs and implementation of new ones may be effective in preparing skilled practitioners and contribute to the elimination of health disparities.

Learning Objectives: