Health Sciences Multicultural and Community Affairs

(HS-MACA)

2013-2014 Annual Report

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The department of Health Sciences’ Multicultural and Community Affairs (HS-MACA) had a successful year in 2013-2014. Guided by our Mission Statement, we continue to provide excellent services to our students and constituents.

The diversity within our student body in the health sciences continues to grow even as we strive to retain the students and ensure that they achieve their career objectives.

This year, we grew our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Program (STEM) by focusing on girls’ education through our partnership with Girls, Inc. In addition, we increased the number of students participating in our Friday noon program, Common Ground, which is one of the few Interprofessional programs on campus. The details of these accomplishments are highlighted in the report.

Mr. Channing Bunch, long-time Assistant Director and Recruitment/Retention Manager, departed from Creighton for other professional activities. We welcomed Mr. Mervin Vasser as his replacement. Mrs. Elaine Ickes joined us as our Administrative Professional. In addition, Mr. Errik Ejike joined our team as Supervisor for our Center for Promoting Health and Health Equalities (CPHHE), an academic and community partnership initiative.

On behalf of the dedicated staff of HS-MACA, I welcome you to review the 2013-2014 report of our stewardship to Creighton University students, faculty, staff, and the community that we serve. Thank you for your partnership, friendship, and support.

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it and it will never be used to hurt you.

– T. Lannister, Game of Thrones

Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, MD, MSPH, MBA Associate Vice Provost–

Health Sciences Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Preventive Medicine & Public Health

Reflection

HS-MACA Staff

Tracy Monahan, MBA

Mervin Vasser, MPA Jeff Lang, MS, ABD Errik Ejike, MPH Jennifer Klimowicz, BS

Jennifer Kubila, MEd Brett Briggs, BGS, COA

Elaine Ickes, BGS Kira Chhatwal, BA

Senior Finance Director

HS-MACA Assistant Director

Academic Success Counselor-Post Bac

CPHHE Supervisor COPC Program Supervisor

Program Coordinator, CPHHE

Glaucoma Outreach

Administrative Professional

Pipeline Program

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Highlights of 2013—2014

One hundred and one (101) underrepresented minority

students were accepted in the Health Sciences Schools

Provided cultural awareness seminars for over ninety (90)

dental students

Hosted annual Continuing Education Accredited Creighton

Conference on Health Disparities, with a focus on Asthma

Offered summer research to four (4 )undergraduate students in

biomedical science

Held a community-based health disparity research program for

High School students

Completed the four-semester Post-Baccalaureate Program for

five (5) Pre-Dental and nine (9) Pre-Medical students

Completed eight weeks of Pre-matriculation Programs for eight

(8) Pre-Medical, five (5) Pre-Dental, three (3) Pre-Pharmacy, and

one (1) Pre-Physical Therapy students

The Focus on the Health Professions program exposed 974

Omaha middle-school students to Health Science Careers.

Over three-hundred fifty (350) individuals received information

on health promotion and education through their interaction

with the Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality

(CPHHE is funded through tobacco settlement LB692)

Community-Oriented Primary Care endowment of $1,875,000

provided the opportunity for 22 Common Ground sessions

where attendance of over 700 grew by 116% from 2013,

tutoring for 338 hours for Medical students, five (5) scholarships

($26,700) to Medical students, and six (6) health disparities

community research for Medical students

Provided glaucoma screenings and blindness prevention

initiatives for 794 patients through the HS-MACA Glaucoma

Screening Initiative

Submitted two (2) grants to Patient-Centered Outcomes

Research Institute (PCORI) and the National Science Foundation

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Grant (NSF STEM)

totaling $4,298,217

Continued collaboration with Jackson State University, MS on a

Prostrate Cancer grant for $731,278 for 3 years from the

Department of Defense.

During the academic year 2013-2014, Health Sciences-Multicultural and Community Affairs (HS-MACA) enhanced the diversity

engagement on University’s campus and Omaha community through the following activities*:

*These activities are further described in this report.

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Guiding Principles

Mission Statement

To promote Creighton University Health Sciences as a recognized leader in the training and development of a multicultural healthcare

workforce that serves to reduce health disparities in underserved and diverse communities through research, culturally proficient

education, community interaction and engagements.

Vision Statement

HS-MACA will be recognized and respected as an innovative center that pioneers and synthesizes community, education, and research in

the development of future healthcare professionals who are culturally aware and work toward the elimination of health disparities.

Goals and Objectives

To recruit underrepresented or disadvantaged students and faculty in the Health Science schools who will promote health and health

equality to a diverse population.

To provide and promote retention activities for culturally competent underrepresented students, faculty, and staff.

To promote, expand, and cultivate cultural awareness to campus and community.

To address health disparities through

teaching, research, and community

advocacy.

To seek funding opportunities for

innovative, integrative, and coordinated

approaches for the continued and

expanded training of diverse healthcare

professionals.

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Georgia Graduate Recruitment Fair

During the 2013-2014 academic year, the HS-MACA Recruitment and Retention Manager attended the Georgia Graduate Fair which took place October 16 – 22, 2013. He met with prospective students from the University of Georgia, Morehouse, Mercer University, Georgia College, Berry College, and Georgia Tech. Fifty-six (56) students expressed an interest in our Post-Baccalaureate Programs and completed a contact card for follow up.

AAMC

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) held its annual conference in Philadelphia, PA, November 1-6, 2013. At the conference, HS-MACA and the medical admissions staff interacted with 25 students. Nine students expressed interest into the Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program during the Minority Student Medical Career Awareness Recruitment Fair on November 2nd and requested a follow up.

Med-MAR

The Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR), was created by AAMC to enhance admission opportunities for groups historically underrepresented in medicine. Med-MAR serves as a means to identify and communicate the availability of applicants

from groups who self-identify as underrepresented in medicine and/or as economically disadvantaged. The program's registry distributes basic biographical information about the examinee and the examinee's MCAT exam scores to minority affairs, admission offices of AAMC-member schools, and certain health-related agencies interested in increasing opportunities for students participating in the program. Access to the Med-MAR registry allows HS-MACA access to e-mail campaigns to hundreds of prospective students.

University of Nebraska at Omaha

On January 29, 2014, HS-MACA presented on the topic of Creighton University Dental School enrollment, academic requirements, and the application process to UNO Pre-Dental Club students. I met with fifteen (15) students who expressed interest in General Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Dental Hygiene.

Creighton University

On Friday, March 21, 2014, the Recruitment and Retention Manager and the Academic Success Counselor in HS-MACA were guest speakers at the Pre-Medical (PMED) Seminar. This gave us an opportunity to educate a group of approximately 40-50 juniors who are interested in applying to medical school. Students were provided an overview of HS-MACA, our Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program, and how to maximize productivity in the event of a “gap year.”

Recruitment & Retention

Health Sciences Recruitment Activities

This year has shown an influx in those aspiring to become health professionals. Applications for students seeking admittance into the Post- Baccalaureate program increased by 80% for the 2014-2015 academic year. Recognition and interest in our Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Matriculation Programs can be attributed to our academic success, word-of-mouth advertising, and recruitment efforts.

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Georgia

University of GA Graduate/Professional Fair Athens, GA 15 (11 Medical, 1 Dental, 3 OT )

Mercer University Macon, GA 5 Medical

Morehouse Atlanta, GA 17 ( 8 Medical, 8 Dental, 1 OT )

Georgia College Milledgeville, GA 3 Medical

Berry College Kennesaw, GA 8 (4 Medical, 3 OT, 1 PT )

Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA 8 Medical

Pennsylvania

AAMC Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA 25 Medical

Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR) AAMC 126 Prospective Medical Students

Nebraska

University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE 15 Dental

Creighton University -

PMED Seminar Omaha, NE 135 Medical

HS-MACA continues to develop relationships with students, universities, pre-health advisors, faculty/staff, and administrators in order to bring awareness and notoriety to our Post-Baccalaureate and Pre-Matriculation Programs.

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Health Sciences Retention Activities

Mentoring

The HS-MACA mentoring program continues to grow and benefit

both students and faculty at Creighton University. The mentoring

program is promoted throughout the university and its larger

community. Mentoring, both formal and informal, provides

opportunities for counseling and support. This makes it possible for

the students to succeed in their academic and professional careers.

Open Door: During the academic year, Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki

mentored an average of 8 students per week. This translates to

over 400 students in the academic year. In addition, she also had

a one-hour mentoring class per month for all 12 Post-

Baccalaureate students.

HS-MACA Staff: Staff mentored students approximately 5-10

hours a week, seeing over 200 students during the academic

year.

Post-Baccalaureate: All 14 students were assigned individual

mentors in the upper class of the medical and dental schools and

participated in two formal mentoring events during the academic

year. All the Pre-Matriculation students, 9 in the health sciences

were assigned mentors.

The HS-MACA mentoring program worked with over 85 students

from high school through professional school. Two group

sessions offered students guidance on how to develop successful

mentor/

mentee

relationships.

Tutoring

HS-MACA offers a tutoring program for students who need extra

assistance in the Post-Baccalaureate classes, medical school, and in

the “pipeline” programs. Students may be referred by HS-MACA

coordinators for subject areas of biology, chemistry, physics, or math.

The following services may be offered:

Individual meeting with instructor for additional assistance

Individual and peer tutoring session with classmate

Access to academic resources offered through the university

and/or

Assignment of an individual tutor

This year, HS-MACA provided 89 hours of one-on-one tutoring to Post

-Baccalaureate students.

Learning Lab

HS-MACA continued the learning laboratory for the 2013-2014

academic school year as an extension of the academic success course

and to enhance the tutoring program. Under the guidance of the

Academic Success Counselor, 14 Post-Baccalaureate students

received 70 hours of Learning Lab to improve learning strategies in

course content as follows:

Cooperative learning

Content experts on hand to

provide guidance

MCAT/DAT preparation and

review

Provide group tutoring.

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Student Organizations

Minority Association of Pre-Health

Students (MAPS)

Undergraduate students with common

interests have united and now hold

membership and leadership positions

within the organization. They have the

opportunity to get involved in SNMA at

local, regional, and national levels from a

very early point in their college careers.

MAPS members are eligible to receive

mentorship from current SNMA and MHSSA

members. This collaboration creates a

strong pipeline within Creighton’s student

body and perpetuates the future of SNMA

on Creighton’s campus. They work to make

the future of diversity in medicine look

brighter than ever. This organization had

more than 60 members for the 2013–2014

academic year.

Student National Medical Association

(SNMA)

The objectives of Creighton SNMA are a

mirror of the SNMA national objectives

which include:

1. Serve the health needs of underserved

communities in Omaha and educate

people about important health

matters.

2. Assure that medical education and

services are culturally sensitive to the

needs of the diverse populations.

3. Assist underrepresented students in

enrolling and successfully completing

their medical studies.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, there

were more that 30 students who

participated in Creighton SNMA.

Multicultural Health Sciences Student

Association (MHSSA)

MHSSA is an organization that fosters a

community "spirit" among students, faculty,

and the administration of the Creighton

University Medical Center Health Professions

schools. It is an organization that is

dedicated to supporting and promoting the

academic and social needs of minority

professional students.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, there were

37 students who participated in Creighton

MHSSA.

MAPS students toy bagging at

Open Door Mission SNMA students at Charles Drew

“Trick or Treat Adventure”

MHSSA students received “Outstanding Event of

the Year” for HIV/AIDS Awareness week.

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Scholarships

Dr. John T. Elder Post-Baccalaureate Award

After Dr. John T. Elder died in November 1996, one of his former

students, Thomas Collins, MD, FRCS, a surgeon in Boston,

donated funds to start an endowment in Dr. Elder’s name.

Proceeds from the endowment have been awarded to current

medical and dental students who are Post-Baccalaureate

alumni. The award is for $1,200 per student. One medical and

one dental student received the award, in 2013-2014. The

students who received the awards are: Alvin Samuels (D3) and

Danielle Ramirez (M3).

Drs. Gbolahan & Sade Lasaki Family Award

The Drs. Gbolahan and Sade Lasaki Family Award was

established in 2008. This award is for $1,000 per student and is

given to current Post-Baccalaureate students who are the most

improved on the Pre/Post-Baccalaureate admission MCAT and

DAT scores. For 2013-2014, one medical and one dental

student received this award. The students who received the

awards are: Br’eon Anderson and Joseph Saffold.

Alvin Samuels (D3) and

Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki

Danielle Ramirez (M3) Dr. Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, Br’eon

Anderson and Dr. Gbolahan

Lasaki

Dr. Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, Joseph

Saffold and Dr. Gbolahan Lasaki

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Academic Programs

Pre-Medical

Nine (9) Post-Baccalaureate Program

students, out of a pool of one hundred

twenty-eight (128) applicants, were admitted

to the fee-driven Pre-Medical program for

the 2014-2015 academic year. As a part of

the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program,

students are engaged in year-round health

science coursework which include: Pre-

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

preparations, health professions exposure in

primary-care setting, and a summer Pre-

Matriculation Program. Areas of study in the

Post-Baccalaureate/Pre-Matriculation Pre-

Medical Program include Anatomy,

Microbiology, Neurology, Micro Cell Biology,

Host Defense, Pharmacology, and Academic

Excellence. Students are given renewal

scholarships based on their successful

completion of the Post-Baccalaureate

program. Eight (8) students from the Post-

Baccalaureate Class of 2014 will matriculate

into Creighton University School of Medicine.

Six (6) students from the Pre-Medical Post-

Baccalaureate class of 2009 and 2010

graduated from Creighton University’s

School of Medicine. The students have

matched in residency in General Surgery,

Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, and

Pediatrics.

Pre-Dental

Five (5) Post-Baccalaureate students were

admitted into this fee-driven Pre-Dental

Program for the 2014-2015 academic year,

out of an applicant pool of eighty-six (86)

students. These students are engaged in Pre-

Dental Admission Test (DAT) preparations,

health professions exposure in dental care

settings, and a Pre-Matriculation program of

study. The Pre-Matriculation areas of study

are Gross Anatomy, Academic Excellence,

Histology, Biochemistry, Dental Anatomy, and

Dental Materials. Students are given renewal

scholarships based on their successful

completion of the program. Four (4) students

from the Post-Baccalaureate Class of 2014

will matriculate into Creighton University

School of Dentistry.

Four (4) students from the Pre-Dental Post-

Baccalaureate Class of 2010 graduated from

Creighton University’s School of Dentistry.

These students are pursuing general dentistry

practices in New Mexico, Louisiana, and the

Bronx, New York.

Pre-Matriculation School of Pharmacy

and Health Professions (SPAHP)

In the summer of 2014, seventeen (17)

students participated in the Pre-Matriculation

Program for the upcoming 2014-2015

academic year: three (3) Pre-Pharmacy, one

(1) Physical Therapy, eight (8) Pre-Medical,

and five (5) Pre-Dental students.

The 2013-2014 academic year was a success

for the Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, and SPAHP

Pre-Matriculation Programs. Nineteen (19)

students have or will matriculate into a

health professional school. Four (4) students

matriculated into dental school, eight (8)

matriculated into medical school, and seven

(7) SPAHP students; five (5) of which went

into the School of Pharmacy, one (1) into

Occupational Therapy and one (1) into

Physical Therapy. We are also proud to

announce that 100% of the SPAHP Pre-

Matriculation program participants received

scholarships.

Two (2) students from the SPAHP Pre-

Matriculation Program graduated with

degrees in Occupational Therapy.

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Community Oriented Primary Care

The Creighton University Community Oriented Primary Care Program’s mission is to increase the number of health professionals who are committed to addressing health disparities through their research and service in medically underserved communities.

From October 2004 to September 2007, Creighton University, through its department of Health Sciences’ Multicultural and Community Affairs (HS-

MACA) received an endowment grant of $1,875,000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to increase Creighton’s capacity to train students

in public-health research. COPC is made up of four components: Health Disparities Research, Common Ground, Medical Student Scholarships, and

Medical Student Tutoring. COPC is currently in its eleventh year of operation.

Health Disparities Research

Each summer, three (3) first-year medical students participate in an eight-week COPC health disparity research project. Below is a list of the medical students with their respective research topics (for the summer of 2014) and faculty mentors:

Troy Kurz (M1), “Influences of insurance status on presentation, delivery of care, and hospital outcomes in patients who present to the hospital with coronary artery disease,” Dr. Del Core (mentor)

Duc Le (M1), “Studies on the influence of race and type of diabetes on peripheral skin blood flow,” Dr. Marc Rendell (mentor)

Breelan Kear (M1), “Assessment of physical activity in primary care: the sixth vital sign,” Dr. Thomas Guck (mentor).

Three (3) fourth-year (M4) medical students concluded COPC Longitudinal Health Disparities Research:

Sara Etemad, “Patient Population of the Magis Clinic,” Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki (mentor)

Sandy Lieu, “Tools Utilized by Physicians in Managing Weight in Obese Pregnant Women,” Dr. Maureen Fleming (mentor)

Eric Ogle, “Depression and Obesity in American Indian Adolescents,” Dr. Larsen (mentor).

Common Ground

Common Ground is an inter-professional

forum where all students in the health

sciences meet every Friday. It is an open

and interactive forum in which the

students can learn the principles of public

health and health disparities from health

professionals, researchers, and

community partners. We held 22

Common Ground sessions in the 2013 –

2014 academic year and more than 700

students (an increase of 116 percent)

gathered to learn about Health Disparities

in Nebraska and the region.

Medical Student Scholarships

The COPC Scholarship is awarded to

increase medical-school enrollment of

health disparity students interested in

participating in health disparity research.

During the 2013–2014 fiscal years, COPC

disbursed $26,700 in scholarship money

awarded to five students, Valerie Pierre

(M2), Deanna Chavez (M2), Jennifer

Duyanen (M3), Bradley Trinidad (M2) and

Tiffany Clark (M2).

Medical School Tutoring

COPC continues to support mentoring and

tutoring within the medical school.

Programs offered include: Training Tutors

(Train–the-Trainer method), One-on-One

tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction

(SI). In the 2013 – 2014 academic year, we

trained 23 students as tutors, provided

338 hours of tutoring to medical students,

and 2,168 students attended

supplemental instruction sessions. These

programs are offered in collaboration

with the Office of Student Affairs in the

School of Medicine.

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Seminars

Addressing Health Disparities: Focus on Asthma

On Saturday, April 26,

2014, over 80

healthcare

professionals,

community leaders,

and students gathered

at Creighton

University to explore

the data and statistics

that illustrate heart

disease in ethnic populations and discuss what can be done to lessen

these health disparities.

The conference goal was to discuss reasons for asthma health

disparities and explore solutions with community leaders. The goal was

carried out through panel discussions with perspectives from the

Omaha-metro community and clinicians at Alegent Creighton Health.

The conference also featured breakout sessions where participants

discussed interventions within the school, workplace, community, and

medical communities.

The guest speaker was Dr. Floyd J. Malveaux, Jr., the Executive Vice

President and Executive Director of Merck Childhood Asthma Network

in Washington, D.C. Dr. Floyd J. Malveaux is a nationally-recognized

expert on asthma and allergic diseases and is Emeritus Dean of the

College of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology and Medicine at

Howard University.

Evaluation results indicate that 100% of the attendees felt the

information they received at the conference will affect the way they do

business in their profession. One attendee stated, “I learned to always

dive deeper into the barriers the patient may be experiencing.”

The conference was sponsored by Office of Health Sciences

Multicultural and Community Affairs, The Center for Promoting Health

and Health Equality, and the Continuing Medical Education Division.

Cultural Awareness Seminar for Dental Students

On Thursday, May 22, 2014, over 90 third-year dental students

attended a cultural awareness seminar coordinated by Dr. Kosoko-

Lasaki, Teena Beehner, and HS-MACA staff members. Dr. James H.

Howard, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and External Affairs,

welcomed the students and set the tone for diversity awareness in the

school.

The objectives of the seminar were to:

Learn the key concepts that define cultural competency

Utilize appropriate methods for interacting sensitively, effectively,

and professionally with persons from diverse cultural,

socioeconomic, educational, and racial and ethnic backgrounds

Develop and adapt approaches to clinical problems that take into

account cultural differences

Learn the appropriate use of an interpreter in a diverse health

workforce.

Evaluation results indicate that 100% of the dental students felt the

information the seminar objectives were met. One student noted, “The

small group was really helpful… it was engaging and I learned a lot.”

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Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality

The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality (CPHHE, “Center”) was co-founded in 2008 by Dr. John Stone and Dr. Sade Kosoko-

Lasaki. The purpose of the Center is to enhance community health through community-university collaborative research, education, and

implementation in communities of Omaha and the region. The Center’s emphasis is on health improvement of communities that have

worse health related to social inequalities and inequities. The goal remains to reduce health disparities and increase the health of

minority populations through community-university collaborative research, education, and implementation in Omaha, Nebraska, and

the surrounding region.

The current board members of CPHHE:

Omaha Community Health Disparities

Partnership Board

Dr. Richard Brown - Chair Elect

Captain Scott Gray - Omaha Police

Department

Mr. Stephen Jackson - NAACP

Ms. Doris Lassiter - NE Center for Healthy

Families

Dr. Donna Polk - Chair - Urban Health Coalition

Dr. Adi Pour - Douglas County Health

Department

Mr. Clifford Scott - Omaha Housing Authority

Mr. Stephen Spelic - Alegent Creighton Health

Mr. Thomas H. Warren - Urban League of

Nebraska

Creighton University Health Disparities

Partnership Board

Dr. Roselyn Cerutis - School of Dentistry

Dr. Jackie Font - Werner Institute

Dr. Beth Furlong - Center for Health Policy &

Ethics

Dr. Amy Haddad - Health Policy & Ethics

Dr. Martha Nunn - School of Dentistry

Mr. Chris Rodgers - Marketing and

Communications

Dr. Peter Silberstein - School of Medicine

Dr. Jeffrey Smith - School of Education

Dr. Marlene Wilken - School of Medicine

Associates

Dr. Dianne Travers-Gustafson - College of

Nursing

Ms. Monica Rogers - Health Science Library

Dr. Alvin Wee - School of Dentistry

Emeritus

Dr. Syed Mohiuddin - School of Medicine

Dr. Henry Lynch - School of Medicine

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The Center’s formation rests on the recognition that, to foster health equality and promote

health generally, Health Sciences Centers such as CPHHE should become Centers-without-walls

that embrace served communities as partners and collaborators. Intersectional collaboration of

multiple academic disciplines and health professions is essential and community-based

participatory research is the most promising model. Core issues are how social justice, respect,

care, and other ethical values should flow throughout such a collaborative-partnering endeavor.

Building community-academic relationships and partnering are essential elements for effective

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and are crucial for application of grants

(Institutional Commitment) for reducing disparities in the community that Creighton serves.

CPHHE in the Community

In 2013-2014, the Center for Promoting Health

and Health Equality (CPHHE) has entrenched

its time and effort into benefiting the

communities of Omaha and surrounding cities

through health education and outreach

activities that engage its community members

and further educate them on various health

topics. Our goal is not to be an outsider of a

community and attempt to help, rather it is to

be a part of the community so that we may

learn from the communities in an effort to

benefit the overall health of the communities

within our capacity.

CPHHE has been active in the community

through participation in various health fairs

within the city and beyond. Thus far, CPHHE

has participated in the Black Family Health and

Wellness Fair, the Juneteenth Health Fair, and

the Indian Center, Inc. Health Fair in Lincoln,

NE. During these fairs, CPHHE provided health

information on chronic disease and other

related information, partnering with HS-

MACA’s glaucoma coordinator for eye

screenings and with the National Library of

Medicine for health literacy building through

online resources.

The Inspiring Change Program is a chronic-

disease management program aimed to build

awareness of causal factors and to intervene

with chronic conditions such as diabetes,

hypertension, heart disease, and other related

conditions. The class information is based off

the needs and wants of the audience. Some of

the topics are action planning, nutrition,

exercise, mental and emotional health, and

risk factors. The Omaha Housing Authority

and Mt. Moriah Baptist Church have been

active sites for the program, and we look

forward to program expansion in the faith-

based organizations, Sudanese community,

and Islamic communities for the next fiscal

year.

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Summer Research Institute (SRI)

In a nation of changing demographics, it is important to maintain a representative balance of population and workforce. However, some

minority groups are severely underrepresented in sciences and health care occupations, undermining the nation’s strengths as a leader in

science, health, and technological advances. It is becoming increasingly clear that, as the population demographics move toward increasing

numbers of diverse individuals, the future health and prosperity of the United States will depend on equitable representation and

participation in science, health, and technological occupations.

Undergraduate Biomedical Sciences Program

A collaborative effort is being made between the Health Sciences’ Multicultural and Community Affairs (HS-

MACA) and the Center for Promoting Health and Health Disparities (CPHHE). The purpose of the Summer

Biomedical Research in Health Disparities is to increase interest in biomedical and health science professions

among underrepresented minority groups. The specific objectives of the program are to:

enable students to better understand the nature and applicability of

scientific methods in research

instill confidence in students pursuing careers in biomedical research

and other health professions, and

provide minority students exposure to opportunities inherent in

research careers.

Undergraduate students are paired with a university faculty member who

involves the student in an ongoing research project or designs a project

specifically for the student. The students attend a one-hour weekly

seminar series in which Creighton University scientists will present their research. The Seminar Series

will stress the specific experimental approaches that are used to address fundamental problems in

health and disease.

High-School Community Awareness Program

Students intern at a community-based organization for six weeks. The students receive training in

health disparities and perform research projects in their community. Students work in collaborative

groups to learn about health disparities in their neighborhood by developing surveys, examining data, doing community mapping, and

conducting interviews resulting in policy recommendations. These activities enable the students to enhance their high-school education and

build health disparities knowledge.

At the end of the program, the students present their research experiences at a colloquium in the form of a poster and oral session in

August. The students design and arrange the research data and prepare a short paper presenting the introductory background, experimental

design, results, and discussion of the research they performed during the summer.

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Health Disparities Research Training Program (HDRTP)

HDRTP is a collaborative effort headed by University of Alabama-Birmingham and Minority Health Research Center of University of

Alabama-Birmingham in conjunction with Creighton University, Tuskegee University, Rust College, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

HDRTP is a multi-year development program that commences with a year-long program of mentoring career development, grants

writing, and research training. This is the third year that CPHHE has sent faculty fellows for this training.

The objectives of the Health Disparities Research Training Program are to:

Develop independent researchers in the area of health disparities research

Provide instruction in scientific research methodology and design

Provide training in health disparities and innovative approaches to reduce them

Teach scientific writing and grant preparation skills to produce a grant submission to an external agency.

The video conference format allows trainees to participate from their home institutions. Portions of the training include Web-based

training courses in bioethics and epidemiology and independent grant development with a mentor. Examples of topics include Health

Disparities Research (HDR), Research Design and Methods, HDR Program Evaluation, Biostatistics, Community-Based Research,

Translational Research, Study Participant Recruitment and Retention, Models of Behavioral Change, Health Economics, Bioethics, and

Manuscript and Grant Preparation.

The 2013/2014 faculty fellow is presented below:

Faculty Participant:

Fellow: Dr. Misty Schwartz

School: College of Nursing

Mentor: Dr. Joan Lappe, Professor School of Medicine

Research Interest: Dietary Intake and Lipid levels in Adolescent Minori-

ties

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Glaucoma Outreach

Glaucoma Screening Initiative (GSI)

The Glaucoma Screening Initiative was started in 2001 by Dr. Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist at Creighton University. GSI is funded by HS-MACA, with equipment previously funded by

the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation. The Initiative seeks to prevent glaucoma and other ocular diseases through education and screening.

The Glaucoma Screening Initiative, the team consisting of Brett Briggs (Coordinator) and medical students of the Creighton Eye Society, is designed to provide screening to individuals in underserved and underinsured populations in an effort to prevent the progression of glaucoma and other ocular diseases by traveling to multiple locations in Nebraska to screen for those ailments.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision and, if left untreated, progresses to blindness. Glaucoma is the number one treatable cause of blindness in the United States. Vision loss is very gradual; often many individuals do not know that they have it until it is progressed. We find glaucoma has an especially high incidence in underserved populations, such as that of African Americans and Hispanics.

From August 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014, 794 individuals were screened through

the Glaucoma Initiative. Many of the individuals screened would otherwise not have known if they were at risk of developing glaucoma.

Immediately after the screenings, the team refers individuals to local eye-care professionals to evaluate the diagnoses of glaucoma and other ocular diseases. Individuals are also provided with the relevant literature so that they are able to obtain a better understanding of glaucoma and other ocular diseases.

Total Screened Total Referred Total Referred for Glaucoma

794 276 71

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Preventative Ophthalmology

Part of the Jesuit mission is educating the whole person; mind, body, heart, and spirit. The more whole you are, the more you can contribute to the world. April 2014 marked Health Sciences – Multicultural and Community Affairs’ 10th annual preventative ophthalmology trip to the Dominican

Republic. The mission is to combat blindness from Glaucoma and Vitamin-A deficiency. Over the course of 10 years, Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki has examined over 1,500 patients and performed dozens of surgeries at Creighton’s Institute for Latin American Concern in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

The focus of the trip is glaucoma treatment, overall eye-health education, and mega-dose Vitamin-A distribution. Glaucoma is the most common cause of blindness in Black and Hispanic populations. The World Health Organization deems the Dominican Republic at risk for Vitamin-A deficiency. New this year was the distribution of First Sight eyeglasses for patients with refractive error. They are customizable eyeglass frames that can be fitted on site with a variety of lenses to match closely with the patient’s prescription.

A total of 116 adults received complete ophthalmologic exams for glaucoma. These exams included registration, risk assessment, visual acuity tests, slit-lamp microscopy, and tonometry. Visual fields and fundoscopy were done as needed. A total of 64 children, ages 6 months to 11 years, were screened and received Vitamin A. One breastfeeding mother was also given Vitamin A.

Eighteen children and young adults were administered First Sight eyeglasses. Visual acuity is established using an occlude, to check each eye individually, and an eye chart. Once the patient’s vision is measured, refractive lenses are used in a trial-and-error fashion to improve each eye. 100% of the glasses that were administered improved the vision in one or both eyes. Fourteen other patients were given other eyeglasses that were donated at CUMC and read by Paula Wagner, COA.

We were greatly encouraged to see a large number of people who had been diagnosed in our previous mission trips and returned for follow-up on their conditions. Fifty-five existing glaucoma cases and three new cases of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect were diagnosed. Two diode laser glaucoma surgeries were performed. Sixteen patients were referred to Dr. Guzman for other surgeries, including pterygium and diabetic eye disease. Dr. Guzman and the ILAC clinic will be handling the follow-up visits, post-op care, and further follow-up for these patients.

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Focus on Health Professions

Since its inception in

2000, the Health

Sciences Multicultural

and Community Affairs

Office (HS-MACA) has

introduced hundreds of

young people to health

science careers through

pipeline programs that

serve area students

beginning in the 4th

grade and continuing

through their middle school, high school, college years, and beyond.

The programs expose young people from diverse backgrounds to

career opportunities they might not have considered otherwise and

help them envision themselves in health sciences surroundings.

Mentors encourage students to establish short- and long-term

educational and professional goals and make educational choices that

will foster an ongoing interest in science.

Pipeline programs lay the groundwork that can lead to students

becoming viable applicants to competitive programs in medicine,

dentistry, and other health science disciplines.

The Focus on Health Program was created through a collaborative

agreement established with the City of Omaha’s Middle School

Learning Initiative and HS-MACA to provide health science

programming to their after-school and summer programs. The schools

visited were Lewis and Clark Magnet School, Marrs Middle School,

McMillian Middle School, Morton Middle School, Monroe Middle

School, and Norris Middle School. Math, science, and career

presentations were given in six-week sessions during the academic

school year, as well as in the

summer.

HS-MACA made contact with 974

students during the school year,

as well as in the summer. The

program staff again followed the

previously successful plan to

introduce health and wellness

issues and lead activities to

increase aptitude and interest in

mathematics and the sciences.

Each year, a portion of those

activities are geared to

understand the importance of math and science knowledge for future

career preparation/goals and to expose youth to health careers. 95%

of Focus on Health Profession students rated the activities as good or

great.

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Grants

Academic Institutional or Community Grants, Funded

Principal Investigator

1. Nebraska Tobacco Settlement (LB 692): Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality; 2012-2015, $570,428

Federal Grants, Funded

Principal Investigator

1. National Center of Minority Health Development (NCMHD)/NIH Endowment Program for Increasing Research and Training

in Health Profession Schools; 2005-Perpetuitary, $1.8million

Co-Investigator

1. Department of Defense Congressional Directed Medical Research Programs: Prostate Cancer Health Disparity Research

Award, W81XWH-10-PCRP-HDRA; 2011-2014, $731,278

Grants, Submitted Pending - None

Grants, Submitted Not Funded

1. AstraZeneca Foundation, HOPE Grant , 014-2016, $800,000

2. Department of Health and Human Services, Connecting Kids to Coverage Collaborative; 2013-2015, $1,000,000

3. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Transdisciplinary Research Collaborative Center, 2013-2015,

$3,000,000

4. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Grant, Reducing Tobacco Disparities in low-socioeconomic tenants

of multiunit housing, 2014-2016, $1,300,00

5. National Science Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Grant (NSF STEM), Creighton University Pipeline

to Success, 2014-2018, $2,998,214.

Grant Reviewer

1. NIH/SREA reviewer for National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NCMHD) study section

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Presentations

1. Kosoko-Lasaki, O. Domestic Violence and its Ocular Manifestations, American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS) Annual Scientific Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 24-28, 2013

2. Kosoko-Lasaki, O. Glaucoma, Diabetes, and Vitamin-A Deficiency, Presentation to Cooperadores at ILAC Center, Santiago, Dominican Republic, March 30, 2014

3. Kosoko-Lasaki, O. Maintaining the Pipeline: Collaboration to Promote Diversity and Productivity, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), 2014 ARVO Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, May 2014

Publications

1. Kelkar A, White WA, Kosoko-Lasaki O. Ocular Manifestations of Domestic Violence: A Case Review, American Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2014, 10:40-46

2. Moul JW, Walsh PC, Rendell MS, Powell, Leslie SW, Lynch HT, Kosoko-Lasaki O. Fitzgibbons WP, D’Amico AV, Catalona WI: Early Detection of Prostate Cancer: The AUA Guidelines. Journal of Urology, 2014 March; 191 (3): 871

Presentations & Publications

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