The Health Workforce Institute based at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health has received a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The grant supports the creation of a new Health Workforce Research Center (HWRC) focused on increasing equity in health workforce education and training.
To achieve its mission, the Health Workforce Research Center on Health Equity in Health Workforce Education will identify how pipeline programs, health profession schools and ongoing professional training contribute to health equity across three main lenses: 1) increasing the diversity of the health workforce, 2) producing graduates likely to practice in underserved communities, and 3) preparing trainees to address social determinants of health. The HWRC’s studies will develop and enhance new metrics and tools for measuring health equity and social mission in health professional education and lead to new insights on school characteristics, curriculum and training modalities that advance health equity.
“We are excited to build on the work we’ve already started at the Health Workforce Institute toward creating healthier and more equitable communities,” said Principal Investigator Fitzhugh Mullan, MD, who is also co-director of the GW Health Workforce Institute. He is also a Professor of Health Policy and Pediatrics at Milken Institute SPH and GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). “With this award, we will be able to contribute to the development of the neglected field of research on social mission in health profession education.”
“This grant will allow us to shine a spotlight on health professions training programs that foster a diverse health workforce that is prepared and inspired to pursue health equity for all,” said HWRC Deputy Director Clese Erikson, M.P.Aff.