Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Scholars Program

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Scholars Program

Status: Active partnership program

Administrator: Mercy Deliverance Ministries in partnership with American Heart Association Greater Southeast Affiliate

Geographic Scope: Southeast United States, with focus on Alabama (partnership between Tuskegee University and Auburn University)

Program Goals

• Close the gap of health disparities and inequities in African-American communities
• Increase representation of African-American clinicians and researchers in biomedical and health sciences
• Train culturally competent healthcare professionals to return to their communities with viable solutions to eradicate heart disease and its contributing factors

Key Statistics on Health Disparities

• African Americans ages 18-49 are 2 times as likely to die from heart disease than Caucasian counterparts
• African Americans ages 35-64 are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than Caucasian counterparts
• Only 7% of medical students, 6% of medical school graduates, and less than 4% of physicians are African-American
• As of January 2021: 9 Alabama scholars have completed the program with 100% graduation rate

Eligibility

• Students attending partnering HBCUs (historically black colleges in the Southeast)
• Interest in obtaining professional degrees in biomedical and health sciences
• Focus on students pursuing graduate programs in health-related fields

What Students Receive

• Stipend to help defray costs of:
- Transportation - Parking - Study materials
• Research opportunities - participation in research projects
• Mentorship - paired with volunteer mentors from nearby universities (e.g., Auburn University researchers) who provide invaluable professional guidance
• Career exploration - exposure to varied career paths in biomedical and health sciences
• Community health education - learn about health issues in their communities

Program Structure

• Academic year experience
• Students paired with research mentors from nearby universities
• Scholars learn about diverse perspectives in scientific investigation
• Focus on cultural sensitivity to create trust and improve clinical outcomes
• Partnership between Tuskegee University and Auburn University (as of 2021 expansion)

Partnerships and History

• Partnership began in 2017 with first Alabama scholars
• 2021 Expansion: Mercy Deliverance Ministries founders (Toni and Tim Vines, MDM board members) were selected as American Heart Association Heart Ball Honorees and chose to expand this program
• New partnership formed between Tuskegee University and Auburn University volunteer researchers
• Addresses historical wounds from Tuskegee University's involvement in the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study (1932-1972)

Contact Information

Email: avines@mercydm.org

Related Resources

• Current HBCU Scholars: https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/current-hbcu-scholars
• American Heart Association HBCU Program: https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/hbcu-scholars-program