“The grant support will further enhance our ability to attract and retain high-caliber students committed to advancing maternal and child health epidemiology and its impact on health policy, health care, and the health status of people in the state and across the country,” said Herbert Peterson, MD, chair of the department.

The goal of the training is to increase the number of researchers working with maternal and child health agencies to produce promising new research for reducing health disparities among racial and ethnic minority and underserved women in the United States.  All supported maternal and child health students will minor in epidemiology and complete a certificate in health disparities.

According to the DHHS’ Healthy People 2010 report, one of the goals of DHHS is to eliminate health inequities for vulnerable population groups.  Peterson says he is pleased that maternal and child health professionals will continue to develop effective strategies for reducing those inequities.

The training program will begin this month under the direction of principal investigator and clinical associate professor, Dr. Vijaya Hogan. Stephanie Moultrie, a third-year doctoral student and Dara Hall-Mendez, a second-year student, will receive support from the grant during the coming year.

# # #

For more information contact Ramona DuBose, director of communications for the UNC School of Public Health, by telephone at 919-967-7467 or by e-mail at ramona_dubose@unc.edu.