Prevention Research Centers Program Selects Minority Fellows

Press Release

May 1, 2003—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced the selection of four Prevention Research Centers Fellows this year.

Raphael Travis will work with the UCLA/RAND Center for Adolescent Health Promotion at the University of California at Los Angeles to analyze whether community-based youth programs in Carson, California, support positive youth development. Chanza Baytop will work with the Center for Adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at The John Hopkins University to evaluate a Baltimore City Health Department program for teenage mothers. Lorna Haughton will work with the Prevention Research Center at Saint Louis University to explore how intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors influence physical activity. Veronica Oates will work with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to determine the effectiveness of and skills needed by lay health advisors who lead cancer prevention programs at churches and worksites. The fellowship program, now in its second year, is sponsored by CDC and the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) for students of minority racial or ethnic origin.

“The Prevention Research Centers Program now comprises 28 centers at universities throughout the nation,” said Dr. James S. Marks, director of CDC's chronic disease prevention and health promotion program. “Each center conducts research among underserved populations, and the results often lead to policy changes in communities. This fellowship allows doctoral-level students of prevention research to gain first-hand experience with our centers and their partner communities.”

The Prevention Research Centers Program engages communities as participants in research. Academic researchers build relationships with communities that help define research questions and conduct research and interventions—such as performing community surveys and educating fellow residents. Many communities build capacity for ongoing services while contributing to new knowledge.

"We are pleased to invite these outstanding health scientists to work alongside the research centers’ faculty and partners," said Dr. Eduardo Simoes, director of CDC's prevention research centers program. "This initiative is an ideal opportunity for learning and contributing to this vital public health service."

Dr. Harrison Spencer, President and CEO of the ASPH commended the Prevention Research Centers’ mentors for their guidance. “ASPH congratulates the selected fellows in this highly competitive process," said Dr. Harrison Spencer, President and CEO of the ASPH. "We are delighted to co-sponsor this program.”

For more information about the Prevention Research Centers Program, see http://www.cdc.gov/prc.

CDC protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.