UW-Madison Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA)’s Post

Off to a great start! Using the Diversity Index (DI) to measure diversity in the public health workforce pipeline. The DI measures the probability that two people chosen at random will be from different race and ethnicity groups. The results indicate an increase in underrepresented minority public health students over time and a significant increase for schools with faculty from underrepresented minority groups. Life is complex, no one person sits exactly in one box, we all exist across several intersections of identity. Thus, this research fails to capture the complexities of identify and is limited by our very rigid definitions of race and ethnicity, but it should not be discounted. I look forward to seeing how we can build upon this methodology to further quantify diversity in the public health workforce.

📚 Students of SPH Spotlight: Ben Weideman "Public health has become a place for work that feels aligned with my experiences, skills, and values; it is a place where I can bring all of this to people and communities that have sustained me throughout my life." – Ben Weideman, Health Services Research, Policy & Administration PhD Candidate Learn more about Ben and other #StudentsofSPH here: https://lnkd.in/gcYYUfsy #UMNProud〽️

Excited and thankful to have participated as both a moderator and panelist for The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recent public workshop “The Science of Engaging Youth Lived Experience in Health Research, Practice, and Policy: A Workshop” on October 11 and 12, 2023.   I believe that youth engagement, codesign, and allyship are the best tools we have to address the issues our nation faces. From youth participatory action research (YPAR) to peer support services to elected and appointed youth representatives, the insights and contributions of young people are invaluable to all fields of work and sectors of society.   However, even in 2023, childism promotes the societal disinvestment and disenfranchisement of young people’s agency and autonomy as policy professionals, fiscal partners, researchers, and more. This often leads to the manipulation, decoration, and tokenization of young people in roles meant to uplift their thoughts, voices, and abilities.   Let’s be clear: Youth engagement is a body of serious social and political thought and a science in and of itself. It’s more than a council or focus group — it’s a moral commitment to empowering the future through experiential learning, skills teaching, and meaning making.   I want to thank Amanda Grigg and the National Academies for this opportunity and their continued leadership in the field. If you're interested in learning more, watch the recorded workshop at the link below. #youthinvolvement #peersupport #youthengagement #ypar #youthpolicy #youthparticipation

Elevate your public health curriculum! Delve into the critical topic of race and health with our "Racism as a Public Health Crisis" cluster. These materials are essential for exploring health disparities, social determinants of health, and fostering equity in your curriculum. 📚 Explore public health related resources from the cluster: What Causes Racial Health Disparities? https://ow.ly/ytOM50SsKqh How Living in an Underserved Community Affects Your Health: https://ow.ly/96th50SsKqj Why Should We Care about Health Equity? https://ow.ly/s54L50SsKqf Topics and standards alignment in this cluster: - Understanding Health Inequalities or Disparities - Working toward Health Equity - Policy and Behavioral Interventions - Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Incorporate these free resources into your teaching to help students grasp the complex dynamics of public health and the importance of equity in health outcomes. #PublicHealth #RDEISE #Education #LabXchange #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #HealthDisparities #SocialDeterminants #CriticalThinking

Sharing this article highlighting the lovely innovation fellow and soon to be YSPH grad, Kailey Seiler! Any organization would be lucky to have her! 

Today my former team at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released several important reports, including the one on Federal Policies and Practices to support STEM Researchers with Caregiver Responsibilities in STEM. As a parent and daughter of a mother who needs care this one holds a special place in my heart and mind. This work is an essential part of ensuring that every one has a fair opportunity to thrive in STEM. To quote the report: “Currently, a cohesive approach to supporting individuals with caregiving responsibilities does not exist. The current approach often relies on individual caregivers who must self-advocate for flexibilities and benefits. Although the needs of each individual are unique, there are common challenges that could be considered universal. Self-advocacy and outreach are often assumed to be part of the process of obtaining flexibility in leave, timing of award, or funds for dependent care. Although flexibility at the individual level is necessary, inequities naturally arise as those with cultural understanding, more experience, status, or resources know how to navigate this complex system. (...) Consideration of the organizational and systemic barriers faced by caregivers is an essential part of understanding and using best practices, developing more universal approaches to support caregivers at federally funded research institutions, and for developing more and or new policies and practices over time." I hope you check it out and share widely.

🌟 March may be over, but the conversations sparked during National Women's History Month continue to resonate! 📣 I had the privilege of moderating a panel of AMA Women Physician Section colleagues, discussing "Leveraging policy and advocacy to support equity, diversity, and inclusion." 💬 We explored how to integrate policy with advocacy in our daily work, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way. 🏥 If we truly aim to promote health for every community, we must view the healthcare system holistically. It's not just about the quality or access to healthcare services, but also about the environments shaping individuals' health conditions. 🌍 That's why ongoing efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into medical school curricula and professional organizations are crucial. Only by addressing the root causes of systemic racism and bias in healthcare can we prepare future physicians to deliver culturally responsive care. Let's keep pushing for progress and building a more inclusive healthcare system together! 💪 🩺🌟 #WomensHistoryMonth #EquityInHealthcare #DiversityAndInclusion #AMAWomenPhysicians Need a resource?  Click below to read the resource guide from  the American Council on Education (ACE) and PEN America Making the Case for Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy in a Challenging Political Environment: A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders. Link -> https://lnkd.in/evHYiY_U

Happy Monday and welcome to the start of NPHW! 🎉 We're thrilled to kick off with our 🌟 Journal Spotlight 🌟 showcasing Civic Engagement. Civic engagement, including voting, volunteering, and participating in civic organizations, is associated with better psychological, physical and behavioral health and well-being for individuals and communities. Here are some journals where you can share your impactful work in civic engagement! 🌟 Journal of Community Psychology is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes research focused on community factors that influence human development and behavior. 🌟 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is a transdisciplinary journal that publishes research on all aspects of environmental and public health sciences, including public health policy, and the impact of environmental factors on health outcomes. 🌟 BMC Public Health has a broad focus, including the study of determinants of health in populations, as well as interventions that aim to improve the health of communities. Are you conducting civic engagement research in health? 📚 Share your article in the comments. #NPHW #CivicEngagement #JournalSpotlight #TSL #ManuscriptWriting

Cannot agree more with you Nick Sevdalis, PhD. Very often, these groups are also left out of RCTs with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria or studies who find it challenging to recruit these patients from ethnic minorities or low digital literacy. Should our research funders have separate grant calls focusing on disadvantaged groups to improve their health outcomes? This can be more deliberate from policy makers to improve equity and inclusion, and not left to researchers or reviewers to submit proposals grounds up. Population health is the distribution of health outcomes of a defined population. Just like the health system would risk stratify to focus interventions on these high risk groups, perhaps it is time for research funders to consider doing the same! What do you all think? #populationhealth #hsg

The Joint Research and Ethics Board is critical to an organization like Abilities Centre because it allows us to conduct our own research, maintain ownership of the data we collect, and communicate with conviction the impact that our programs and services have on the individuals we serve.   This partnership presents us with an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations who play such a critical role to the communities across Durham Region, and beyond.   The quality of the research we publish is heightened by our partnership. It helps us to build more partnerships with funders and other like-minded organizations. It helps us to test assumptions and identify gaps in service. It helps us to scale programs. And, most importantly, it helps us to deliver on our mission to re-imagine accessibility and re-define the way individuals live, work, and play.   We are very excited to welcome Grandview Kids into the Joint Research and Ethics Board and to build even stronger relationships between our three organizations. Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences #research #partnership