Programs
Urban Health Progam (UHP)
The mission of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Health Program is to recruit, retain, and graduate underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students, specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, in the health professions, and to expand educational opportunities for these populations at the pre-college (K-12), undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
We are committed to:
- Providing avenues for early exposure to the health professions for students from traditionally underrepresented groups.
- Providing academic enrichment opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from underrepresented populations who are interested in or pursuing degrees in health-related fields.
- Supporting and participating in community health initiatives and programs, particularly those that are concerned with addressing health disparities and community health.
- Partnering with the Chicago Public Schools, the City Colleges of Chicago, and other educational institutions and organizations to establish and maintain pipelines for admission of traditionally underrepresented student groups into UIC’s health colleges and degree programs.
- Actively recruiting Black, Latino, and Native American undergraduate students throughout Illinois, and encouraging them to apply to UIC’s health colleges and degree programs.
- Conducting ongoing research related to underrepresented student experiences and outcomes, particularly for those students in the health professions pipeline at UIC.
- Encouraging urban health experiences for all students interested in and committed to practicing in medically underserved urban areas, especially in Illinois. http://www.uic.edu/depts/uhealth/
Current Programs Overview
UIC School of Public Health's (SPH) Urban Health and Diversity Program (UHDP) implements various program objectives designed to increase the representation of Under Represented Minorities (URM's) within the field of public health. We provide academic enrichement and public health traineeships for K-12, College, Graduate students and Professionals. In the section below,you will find information on featured programs, links to applications, dates and deadlines.
Graduate Students
- Dissemination of Financial Aid Information
- Minority Students for the Advancement of Public Health (MSAPH)
- Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP)
- Public Health Student Retention Services
- EPI/BSST(quantitative skills)
- Environmental Calculation
- Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
Undergraduate Students
- College Recruitment
- College/Post Baccalaureate Bi-Annual Articulation Conference
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Preparatory Course
- Summer Residential Enrichment Program (SREP)
K-12
- Middle School Public Health Assembly
- Middle School Public Health Science Curriculum
- National Public Health Week Commemoration
- Middle/High School Public Health Science Saturday College (PHSSC)
- Middle/High School Summer Public Health Science Institute (SPHSI)
- High School Public Health Science Club
Cultural Competency Training
- Ten cultural competency workshops for students, staff and instructors
Featured Programs
Public Health Assembly
The Public Health Assembly develops an awareness of public health services and careers in Chicago Public School (CPS) students. We hope to highlight the role workers in Health Professions Shortage Areas play in our everyday lives, especially in preventing diseases and the protecting the water and the environment. Contact: Dorothy Washington-Calvin, 312.996.5955, dwashi5@uic.edu.
Public Health Curriculum
Offered annually, the Public Health Curriculum introduces Public Health to CPS 6th - 8th graders through a six-eight week, student-focused course. The course is designed to supplement the science curriculum and emphasize research training in epidemiology, the basic science of public health, in addition to public health issues related to the environment, public safety and water. Contact: Dorothy Washington-Calvin, 312.996.5955, dwashi5@uic.edu.
National Public Health Week (NPHW)
Public Health Week—which takes place during the first week of April—draws attention to public health issues affecting our daily lives and to achievements in the field. Through various activities, CPS students will interact with health professionals, gaining a greater appreciation for the relevance of public health practice and research.
Public Health Sciences Saturday College (PHSSC)
The PHSSC is a thirty week (six hours/week) academic enrichment program for students in 6th to 12th grades interested in health careers. The program emphasizes Health Professions Shortage Areas in Chicago, providing a preliminary education that will enrich students' academic experience with exposure to public health science and research. Students are engaged in reading, writing, math, science and standardized test preparation strategies throughout the program. These activities are expected to increase students' interest in each academic discipline. The PHSSC also aims to motivate students to take the Honors and Advanced Placement Science courses and participate in other activities that will help them succeed in college. Students attend every Saturday between October and May. 11th & 12th grade students receive a stipend for their full participation. Students choose to complete the 30 week program at the UIC School of Public Health located in the Illinois Medical District or Chicago State University. Contact: Dorothy Washington-Calvin, 312.996.5955, dwashi5@uic.edu.
Elementary/Middle School Summer Public Health Science Institute (SPHSI)
The SPHSI follows the same format as the PHSSC. However, the SPHSI is a six-week program that is offered during summer. Students attend Monday-Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm from the last week in June through the first week in August. Rising 9th-12th grade students receive a stipend for full participation. Students choose to complete the six week program at the UIC School of Public Health or Chicago State University.
High School Public Health Science Clubs (PHSC)
The PHSC is a student-run leadership organization. It is organized by high school students under the guidance of a UIC master’s or doctoral public health student who serves as the health educator and school coordinator within individual schools. The program focuses on academic preparation for health careers and leadership skills. Students in this club—which spans ten participating schools—will meet once or twice a month throughout the academic year. The students earn service learning hours for their participation in the club.
