By launching a new BS/BA degree in public health this spring, Prairie View A&M University became the first Historically Black College and University in Texas to offer the program.

The move marks the first step in bridging a glaring gap in health care that University and health officials alike say became fatally obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic. The worldwide eruption highlighted the racial disparities in public health when Blacks and people of color were twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than their white counterparts.

“Reducing health disparities is one of the major goals of public health,” said Alphonso Keaton, dean of the Office for Undergraduate Studies at PVAMU. “Thus, as an HBCU, it is incumbent upon PVAMU to produce highly trained public health professionals with the core competencies in public health to develop and implement strategies to address the fundamental environment, social and economic causes of health inequities in Texas, the country and globally.”

Keaton says the program comes at an opportune time, on the heels of a pandemic that elevated the need for public health, better health care, and Black physicians, coinciding with increasing student interest and demand for health-related majors at PVAMU. “Public health is essential in this day and age because it is necessary for the preservation of communities, particularly communities of color.”

A 2020 Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion report specified higher education institutions’ role in strengthening public health infrastructure by preparing public health professionals. “By educating these young minds and introducing them to general skills in public health, we may begin bridging some of these gaps in health equity,” Keaton said.

As the OUS dean and associate professor in the Department of Biology, Keaton is overseeing the new BS/BA degree program, which will be temporarily housed in his office. “I will ensure the degree programs are rigorous, relevant and responsive to both the academic and professional needs of our young scholars majoring in public health. I will also ensure they prepare students to be successful as they enter the workforce as public health professional leaders or gain admission to graduate programs in public health.”

Interest In Public Health

The BS curriculum is designed for students interested in pursuing a career as a public health professional and/or a graduate program in public health. The BA program is for those interested in seeking admission into professional schools, such as medical school, dental school or physician assistant programs with an interest in public health.

“Public health-related occupations can expect a strong job outlook in Texas,” Angela Branch-Vital, department head and professor of health and kinesiology, added, noting a degree in public health now will go a long way to help a student’s future career. “Local demand for public health professionals is robust.”

Current University students who want to change their major to public health must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and maintain a GPA of 3.0 to progress through the program, which has 120 semester credit hours. Those seeking acceptance into the program will need a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.

“Student interest and demand for health-related majors at PVAMU have steadily increased over the past years and will be the targeted audience for the program,” Branch-Vital said. The new public health program will also address the needs of transfer students from area community colleges with an associate’s degree in public health who are seeking a bachelor’s degree.

The first public health classes began this spring semester with the initial course, “Foundations in Public Health.” Students are learning about biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health policy/management, and social and behavioral sciences. “This program will introduce them to basic epidemiological principles such as identifying public health concerns and the skills to address them, disease surveillance, program development and implementation, and data analysis,” Keaton said.

Lack of Diversity in Medicine

The lack of diversity in medicine is a focal point and purpose of the program.

“Unfortunately, in the US, we continue to suffer from racial disparities in health care, despite significant advances in modern health care,” Keaton said. “Some of the statistics are staggering, and even surprising for a developed nation.”

Keaton goes on to note, “the life expectancy for African Americans in this country is only 71.8 years as compared to Caucasian Americans who have a life expectancy of 77.6 years.”

At a time when Blacks face such disparities in health and in society, Keaton says PVAMU has a calling and a responsibility as a Historically Black College and University “to educate students who derive from underrepresented communities and to help bridge the gaps in these health disparities.”

He said PVAMU public health graduates can help start improving health outcomes at the local level by educating their families and communities and identifying potential health issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic only revealed and exacerbated the racial disparities that have long plagued the US. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored and highlighted the racial disparities seen in this country,” Keaton said. “The disparities that we saw in COVID-19 were largely related to the higher incidences of chronic conditions seen in the African American community such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, which led to significantly higher rates of mortality related to the COVID-19 virus.”

In addition to chronic conditions, vaccine hesitancy was another factor in higher deaths among Blacks and minorities. Diversity in medicine matters, especially when it comes to things like reducing barriers like vaccine hesitancy and trusting your physician’s medical advice. Studies have shown patients tend to trust physicians of similar backgrounds more.

Eye See You

Another course being offered this spring semester is “Health Promotion & Disease Prevention,” as well as “Health Disparities.” “Given that our population of students comes largely from these populations, they could develop programs to build trust between these populations,” Keaton said.

No Group Left Behind

Currently, Branch-Vital said University officials are exploring administrative structures to best support the new program and its potential for expansion into other in-demand, health-related areas. Discussions are also happening with partners in the College of Nursing, the Undergraduate Medical Academy, and Wellness in Houston, as well as Cooperative Extension Program’s Family and Community Health Unit.

Keaton also looked forward to a near future beginning with the Class of 2027. That’s when new public health graduates from PVAMU will “work to ensure the equitable distribution of health promotion and disease prevention efforts across and within populations” inclusive of race, gender, ethnicity, and identity, leaving no marginalized communities behind.

Visit www.pvamu.edu/undergraduatestudies to learn more about PVAMU’s new BA/BS Public Health Program.