Engaging High School Students in Addressing Health Concerns Impacting Their Communities

The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, a partner of the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center, aims to address health disparities by enhancing the diversity of the U.S. health care workforce to be more reflective of communities of color. High school students are exposed to a service learning curriculum that encompasses: knowledge of social determinants of health; basic research skills; design and implementation of a community-engaged research project; and presentation of research results and policy recommendations. Between 2010-2013, program interns developed 74 research projects and presented policy recommendations to legislative members at the Brooklyn Borough president's office that address a number of issues impacting their community's health such as HIV/AIDS, hookah smoking and access to cancer care.