Engaging minority high school students as health disparities interns: findings and policy implications of a summer youth pipeline program.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper was to describe the development and implementation of a health disparities summer internship program for minority high school students that was created to increase their knowledge of health disparities, provide hands-on training in community-engaged research, support their efforts to advocate for policy change, and further encourage youth to pursue careers in the health professions.


METHODS
Fifty-one high school students who were enrolled in a well-established, science-enrichment after-school program in Brooklyn, New York, participated in a 4-week summer internship program. Students conducted a literature review, focus groups/interviews, geographic mapping or survey development that focused on reducing health disparities at 1 of 15 partnering CBOs.


RESULTS
Overall, student interns gained an increase in knowledge of racial/ethnic health disparities. There was a 36.2% increase in students expressing an interest in pursuing careers in minority health post program. The majority of the participating CBOs were able to utilize the results of the student-led research projects for their programs. In addition, research conclusions and policy recommendations based on the students' projects were given to local elected officials.


CONCLUSIONS
As demonstrated by our program, community-academic partnerships can provide educational opportunities to strengthen the academic pipeline for students of color interested in health careers and health disparities research.
Brooklyn Health Disparities Center, New York, USA.
Kweli
K
Rashied-Henry
Marilyn
M
Fraser-White
Calpurnyia B
CB
Roberts
Tracey E
TE
Wilson
Rochelle
R
Morgan
Humberto
H
Brown
Raphael
R
Shaw
Girardin
G
Jean-Louis
Yvonne J
YJ
Graham
Clinton
C
Brown
Ruth
R
Browne
D000293:Adolescent; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education; D009518:New York; D011050:Policy Making; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult