October 17, 2008
 Several public health graduate students from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) recently gave an educational seminar to University of Arizona undergraduates. Project EXPORT fellows Keisha Robinson, Omar Contreras, and Angelo Ercia organized the educational seminar to teach about the high prevalence of diabetes in Arizona's Native American and Hispanic populations and the devastating effect this disease can have on these minority populations. In their presentation they explored the reasons that these populations have higher incidence rates of diabetes and other diseases than most Americans. Image at upper right: Omar Contreras explains a diabetes incidence graph.
 The MEZCOPH students also spoke about health disparities among minority populations; lower-income and minority groups typically do not have the same access to health care as other Americans. Lack of health care is devastating to a person suffering from a disease such as diabetes, which requires careful medical care, medications, and diet to be treated successfully. Keisha and Omar explored the origin of health disparities, and ways to obtain equal health care for all citizens. At left, Angelo Ercia speaks at the seminar.
The UA News Services produced a news video about this seminar:
Click here to view the video.
About Project EXPORT
In 2000, the National Institutes of Health’s National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) designated 23 higher learning institutions as Centers of Excellence. On February 1, 2003, the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health was awarded a $6 million, five-year comprehensive grant known as the Center of Excellence in Partnership for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training (known as Project EXPORT).
 The University of Arizona’s Project EXPORT Center is a unique collaboration of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health with the Mexican American Studies and Research Center (MASRC), the Native American Research and Training Center (NARTC), and the Universityof Arizona ’s Graduate College. At left, Omar Contreras speaks at the seminar.
The mission of Project EXPORT is to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities among Hispanics and Native Americans, specifically in the areas of diabetes and substance abuse.
The Center targets Arizona’s racial and ethnic minority populations with the greatest socioeconomic need, as well as chronic diseases with the largest health disparities gaps. Project EXPORT is part of the Center for Health Equality at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health.
Encouraging Student Success
The seminar was sponsored by the Multicultural Affairs and Student Success (MASS) office at the University of Arizona. MASS is a community of faculty, staff, students, practitioners, alumni and community members. Utilizing current research, creativity, and diverse perspectives, MASS offers cutting-edge and nationally-recognized programs which address the critical issues of today's college students. Students who participate in MASS programs have a nearly 20% higher retention rate than their peers.
At right are the three Project EXPORT students from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) who planned this diabetes seminar: Omar Contreras, Keisha Robinson, and Angelo Erica.
Thank you, Omar, Keisha, and Angelo!
Links
- uanews.org, the main news home page for the University of Arizona.
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