Students and faculty of the inaugural diversity in health care academyThe University of Alabama at Birmingham launched the UAB Academy for Addressing Health Disparities through Health Care Leadership on May 30, 2017. The two-week program, dedicated to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of students in graduate level health care management education and leadership, was created by the UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Health Services Administration with guidance from the UAB Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.The inaugural academy class includes eight undergraduates from the UAB Health Care Management (HCM) and UAB Public Health programs.
“We created the academy because health care organizations need a diverse management workforce dedicated to meeting the needs of increasingly diverse patient populations and unfortunately, many graduate programs across the country struggle to attract qualified applicants from underrepresented groups,” said Allyson Hall, Ph.D., academy faculty lead and health policy professor in the UAB Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) and HSA Doctoral programs. “The academy will prepare outstanding UAB students to apply, enter and succeed in competitive health care leadership programs.”
The academy lessons are highlighted by opportunities to hear from and interact with HSA alumni and students including:
- Rica Lewis-Payton (MSHA Class 17), former Director, Birmingham VA Medical Center
- Deborah Grimes (Healthcare Quality and Safety, 2016), Chief Diversity Officer, UAB Health System
- Rodgerick Williams (HCM, 2014), Division Director, Biomedical Services, CHS
- Alexis Jackson (MSHA Class 51), Administrative Resident, Baylor Scott and White Health
“Many students from underrepresented areas are unfamiliar with the vast variety of career options in health care, so we included a mentoring component to ensure our students receive insight and guidance after the academy and after graduation,” said Christy Harris Lemak, Ph.D., chair, UAB Department of Health Services Administration. “We know that professional development and advancement involves being a part of a strong network and this academy will provide these students a solid foundation of peers and mentors that will set a positive tone for their future.”
“We are excited about the potential of Academy for Addressing Health Disparities through Health Care Leadership program. Not only is increasing diversity in health professions the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do,” said Paulette Patterson Dilworth, Ph.D., vice president, UAB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This initiative builds on UAB’s reputation of valuing differences, we are committed to attracting talented students who know that we will appreciate and utilize the skills, backgrounds, perceptions, and knowledge they bring to the table.”
The Academy for Addressing Health Disparities through Health Care Leadership provides GRE preparation sessions, graduate school application workshops, resume building skills and leadership development activities. Currently it consists of UAB students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups as well as first-generation college students with at least a 3.0 GPA. In the future, it will open to undergraduate students across Alabama and the Southeast with an emphasis on students at UAB and at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“We believe that as the top graduate program in one of the most diverse parts of the country, we have the opportunity to change of the face of health care leadership at UAB,” said Lemak. “This program will support a strong applicant pool of future leaders who will bring their own experience in communities that healthcare organizations serve – rural Alabama, cities across the state and region, and communities whose voices are often not represented in health care policy and management arenas. We are excited to take this inaugural step in reducing health disparities in Alabama, the Southeast, and beyond by building a strong cadre of passionate, emerging leaders.”
