Term of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
Digital Commons@Georgia Southern License
Department
College of Public Health
Committee Chair
William Mase
Committee Member 1
Bettye Apenteng
Committee Member 2
Jeffery Jones
Abstract
Background: Shortage and lack of diversity in the United States public health workforce is well documented and remains a challenge to meaningfully improving the health of the population. Although the diversity of the public health workforce has implications for access, care quality, and career opportunities in low-income communities, there is no strong mechanism by which minorities are trained to replenish the workforce. Morehouse College’s Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program (MC-PHLFP) is a cooperative program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to train undergraduate students for careers in public health leadership.
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to evaluate if MC-PHLFP alumni from 2016 to 2021 have pursued graduate degrees in public health or public health-related fields and whether these fellows pursued public health professions following their completion of graduate degrees.
Methods: This study is a mixed-method study utilizing data from the MC-PHLFP from 2016 to 2021. PHLFP has a surveillance system that tracks the professional and educational development of fellows and maintains their current demographic information. Frequency analysis and Odds Ratio are calculated to compare with a referent group for demographic characteristics, educational and professional achievements. The chi-square test of independence is utilized to see the relationship between the categorical variables. Binary logistic regression is used to predict the relationship between participating in MC-PHLFP and the dependent variables. In addition, survival analysis was conducted to explore the duration or time until the completion of graduate degrees and the time until the fellows hold their first public health jobs. Thematic data analysis method is used to organize the responses to the open-ended questions.
Recommended Citation
Tola, Jigsa, "Training Underrepresented Minority Students for Careers in Public Health Leadership – Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2750.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2750
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
Included in
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Public Health Commons
