Center for Health Disparities Research and Education
Racial and ethnic minorities and underserved populations experience disproportionately high rates of health risks and disease.
Health disparities are proven to have both medical and behavioral components, so efforts to address these issues must be multifaceted. USU received a multi-million dollar grant from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health. The result is the USU Center for Health Disparities Research and Education.
The program operates in conjunction with the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, to study and create initiatives to reduce health disparities.
Research
The Center focuses on four key components—research, education, training and community outreach. The program's investigative efforts are based primarily in USU's Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, where researchers examine the role of behavior in physical and mental health.
Department Chair David Krantz, Ph.D., along with several faculty members in Medical & Clinical Psychology, explores aspects of behavior and cardiovascular health. Associate Professor Willem Kop, Ph.D., is studying behavioral and psychological predictors of outcome in patients who have undergone angioplasty.
Tracy Sbrocco, Ph.D., is conducting a study focused on modifying health behaviors among African Americans. A separate investigation addresses overweight and obese African American women in a church-based setting.
Training
The Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology received a significant training grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to educate multidisciplinary researchers in health and behavioral research relevant to cardiovascular disease. A USU graduate course created by the program educates future health care professionals about behavior, lifestyle and health.
Center staff also are teaching practical skills to improve future healthcare practitioners' cultural proficiency. The program infuses cultural sensitivity and proficiency training modules into existing university courses and provides students with hands-on opportunities to practice these skills. The Center also conducts a summer internship program for minority students interested in medicine or biomedical research.
Community Outreach
Local education is key to the Center's mission. Program staff use a variety of approaches, from traditional outreach methods to psychodrama, to educate local minority populations. The goal is to involve community members in research and training opportunities and to teach them how they can play a role in reducing health disparities.