GW to Host New Health Workforce Research Center

WASHINGTON, DC (Oct. 17, 2018) — The George Washington University (GW) Health Workforce Institute, based at the Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH), today announced a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support a new Health Workforce Research Center focused on increasing diversity in health workforce education and training.

The Health Workforce Research Center (HWRC) on Health Equity in Health Workforce Education will identify how pipeline programs, health profession schools and ongoing professional training contribute to workforce diversity, address maldistribution and prepare trainees to address social determinants of health. The HWRC’s studies will develop and enhance new metrics and tools for measuring health equity and social mission in health professional education and lead to new insights on school characteristics, curriculum and training modalities that advance health equity.

“We are excited to build on the work we’ve already started at the Health Workforce Institute toward creating healthier, equitable communities,” said Principal Investigator Fitzhugh Mullan, MD, who is also co-director of the GW Health Workforce Institute and a Professor of Health Policy and Pediatrics at Milken Institute SPH and GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). “With this award, we will be able to contribute to the development of the neglected field of research on social mission in health profession education.”

Established in 2013, the GW Health Workforce Institute is a university-wide initiative representing the Milken Institute School of Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Business, Graduate School of Education & Human Development, and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration. It aims to strengthen health workforce policies in the United States and around the world.

“This grant will allow us to shine a spotlight on health professions training programs that foster a diverse health workforce that is prepared and inspired to pursue health equity for all,” said HWRC Deputy Director Clese Erikson, M.P.Aff.
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To learn more about the GW Health Workforce Institute, click here.