Southern Arkansas University has received a $1 million federal grant to implement a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative aimed at advancing rural health.
The project, Building a Diverse Workforce to Advance Health Equity, will also focus on high-risk populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups.
Students will serve as program scholars and receive funded internships to work alongside faculty and community partners to conduct public health surveys and community needs assessments, the university said in a news release. Part of their work will be investigating COVID-19 and vaccine-related issues, collaborate with health care providers, and promote health education across the region.
The university has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Health for the project.
Abdel Bachri, dean of the university’s College of Science and Engineering and the grant’s project leader, said the project is a unique opportunity for collaboration between students and faculty.
“Students will be out in the community working with healthcare providers and the public to better understand many of the challenges that exist to improve access to quality health care in our region of the state,” he said in the release. “We are excited to be partnering with ADH.”
Jennifer Kelton-Huff, assistant professor of public health and advisor to the school’s Public Health Program, is a co-investigator on the project.
“The pandemic has exposed some critical gaps in our health care system, and identifying those areas where we can improve people’s access, understanding, and awareness of the resources that are available can contribute to the quality of life for those that live in rural areas,” she said.
The grant will establish a computing infrastructure to train students in techniques and data analytics tools, with the goal of enabling students to develop a quantitative understanding of population health.
Funding will also be used for a summer camp targeting high school students with hands-on laboratory activities. The goal is to get youths interested in a career in health care.
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