The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a five-year, $2.7 million grant to the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health to launch a program to inspire undergraduates to pursue public health careers, it was announced Monday.
Those participating in the eight-week summer program at UCLA will be partnered with Los Angeles-based organizations, health systems and government agencies, where they will contribute three days per week toward substantive public health projects, according to the university.
Scholars will also attend structured educational workshops two days per week. The workshops will explore public health topics and are designed to address health equity, social justice, health disparities, social determinants of health and prevention.
Mentorship is incorporated throughout the program, providing additional support to students, according to UCLA.
“The idea is to not only provide educational and field experience opportunities to scholars, but to also foster community among the students, faculty, and public health practitioners, which will help the scholars develop a strong connection to public health,” said Dr. Michael Prelip, professor of Community Health Sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health.
