Historical Perspectives: The role of Project IMHOTEP in developing the next generation in Public Health Science

 issues: The Negro Health Movement of 1915 created a variety of community initiated activities to improve the health of African Americans. Federal support for the Negro Health Movement ended in 1954, and by the 1960s there was clear need for a new generation of African Americans focused on community health problems. To date, the public health workforce is ill-equipped to meet the needs of our steadily diversifying nation. This discrepancy is expected to reach crisis proportions unless substantial investments are made in pipeline programs targeting underrepresented minorities. description: For the more than 30 years, Project IMHOTEP has developed a cadre of public health scientists and practitioners with skills, commitment, and concern for underserved communities. The first of its kind, Project IMHOTEP was designed to increase diversity in the Public Health sciences. Over an 11-week period, students are exposed to Public Health and are required to engage in hands-on skills training through coursework and independent research. lessons learned: IMHOTEP has trained well over 600 students in its 30+ years of existence, producing a number of federal health agency supervisors, professionals, and academics. Recent IMHOTEP alumni are among the new generation of public health professionals as they excel at top-tier institutions of public health. Still, efforts to decrease demands on students and preceptors while maintaining quality have been challenging. recommendations: There should continue to be high expectations of IMHOTEP students. It would be useful to develop an alumni panel that could identify opportunities to assist with participants’ professional development.