Increasing Diversity in the Health Professions: Reflections on Student Pipeline Programs

Despite major advances and technological improvements in public health and medicine, health disparities persist by race and ethnicity, income and educational attainment, and in some cases are increasing (Jackson & Garcia, 2014). These health disparities among these populations have even worsened or remained about the same since the landmark 1985 Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black & Minority Health released by then Secretary Margaret M. Heckler. Ensuring diverse public health and healthcare workforces to provide services to diverse populations, in combination with other strategies, can increase access to and quality of healthcare for vulnerable populations and decrease healthcare disparities. One mechanism for achieving a diverse public health and healthcare workforce is to establish, promote, and conduct student training programs in public health. The Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has partnered with institutions, colleges, universities, foundations, national organizations and associations to form and implement student training programs. This paper highlights a session "Public Health Professions Enhancement Programs" that was held during the 2015 symposium titled "National Negro Health Week to National Minority Health Month: 100 Years of Moving Public Health Forward" in Atlanta, Georgia. Presenters at the symposium consisted of interns and fellows who had participated in student programs in the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity at the CDC.