RISE: Promoting diversity among public health professionals

Context: Public health education and research training of underrepresented populations is an important component of a comprehensive approach to promote health equity. Objective: To describe student outcomes following participation in an innovative public health training cooperative agreement program funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Participants: Sixty-six graduate, professional, and recent baccalaureate degree students participated in the Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program. The majority of the students were from underrepresented populations (95%) and female (80%). Intervention: The Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program, a collaboration between a university-affiliated Institute and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, provided public health educational and research experiences during the summer and academic year. Main Outcome Measure: Student presentations at national meetings, publications, and completion of degree programs. Results: The acceptance rate for student presentations at national scientific meetings was 89%. Almost 14 percent of the students were authors of peer-reviewed articles. More than one-third of the students (36%) completed their master's degree and 33% completed doctoral degrees during the 5 years of the program. Students used their Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program research to complete master's theses, practicum requirements, and dissertations. Ninety-five percent of the students pursued education or careers in public health and health care.