Training residents to address cancer health disparities.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is the source of significant morbidity and mortality in the United States, and eliminating cancer-related racial and ethnic disparities has become an ever-increasing focus of public health efforts. Increasing workforce diversity plays a major role in the reduction of health disparities, and a well-trained professional workforce is essential for the prevention, control, and ultimate elimination of this disease. METHODS: To help address this need, the Public Health/General Preventive Medicine residency program at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) developed an innovative Cancer Prevention and Control Track (CPCT). We describe the structure of the track, funding, examples of resident activities, and program successes. RESULTS: Since the development of the track in 2007, there have been 3 graduates, and 2 residents are currently enrolled. Residents have conducted research projects and have engaged in longitudinal community-based activities, cancer-focused academic experiences, and practicum rotations. There have been 3 presentations at national meetings, 1 research grant submitted, and 1 research award. CONCLUSION: The CPCT provides residents with comprehensive cancer prevention and control training with emphasis in community engagement, service, and research. It builds on the strengths of the diversity training already offered at MSM and combines resources from academia, the private sector, and the community at large.

Faith-based partnerships in graduate medical education: the experience of the Morehouse School of Medicine Public Health/Preventive Medicine Residency Program.

Faith-based organizations can be strategic partners in addressing the needs of low-income and underserved individuals and communities. The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Public Health/Preventive Medicine Residency Program (PH/PMR) collaborates with faith-based organizations for the purpose of resident education, community engagement, and service. These partners provide guidance for the program's community initiatives and health promotion activities designed to address health inequities. Residents complete a longitudinal community practicum experience with a faith-based organization over the 2-year training period. Residents conduct a community health needs assessment at the organization and design a health intervention that addresses the identified needs. The faith-based community practicum also serves as a vehicle for achieving skills in all eight domains of the Public Health Competencies developed by the Council on Linkages and all six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Core Competencies. The MSM PH/PMR Program has engaged in faith-based partnerships for 7 years. This article discusses the structure of these partnerships, how partners are identified, funding sources for supporting resident projects, and examples of resident health needs assessment and intervention activities. The MSM PH/PMR Program may serve as a model to other residency and fellowship programs that may have an interest in developing partnerships with faith-based organizations.

Dietary intake to reduce cancer risk among African American women in public housing: do sociodemographic factors make a difference?

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the dietary intake of African American women in public housing as related to cancer risk and explores the sociodemographic factors that hinder healthy dietary intake in this population. DESIGN: Demographic and dietary data for this cross-sectional study were collected as part of a Breast Health Education Study. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with study participants to assess the frequency of consumption of specified food items. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Study participants included 202 women 35-79 years old residing in six public housing facilities in Atlanta, Georgia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Univariate analyses were performed to report age, marital status, education level, employment status, income level, and frequencies of food items consumed. Correlation coefficients and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the association between the frequency of food item consumption and selected sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, only 33.7% and 17.9% of the women consumed fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, respectively. Almost two thirds consumed meat daily, while less than a third consumed whole wheat bread and bran cereals daily. A significant proportion of women had a daily consumption of fats, oils, and sweets (13.4%-49.5%). Three sociodemographic factors - young age, low income, and low education--were associated with unhealthy dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to promote healthy dietary intake should be implemented for women in public housing communities to help reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in this population. These strategies should address the barriers to healthy dietary consumption that are faced by women in this setting.