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Last Updated: 3 July 2007
By: Web Admin
Like cardplaying, many of the decisions in life involve risks an chances. What risks have you taken that create new pathways?
Risks Poster
The collaboration between the University of Michigan School of Nursing (UM-SON) and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing (UTHSCSA-SON) improves the capacities of both institutions to conduct nursing research in health disparities. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has defined health disparities as differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific groups in the United States. The focus of this collaboration will be health promotion and restoration.

History:

The Center for Health Disparities builds on a collaborative project between the UM-SON and the UTHSCSA-SON. The initial MESA Project was a funded supplement to an existing RO1 at UM-SON. Dr. Carolyn Sampselle was the Principal Investigator on the study entitled "PROMOTING SELF-CARE TO PREVENT Urinary Incontinence (UI): A FOUR-YEAR FOLLOW-UP."  As part of the research project, Dr. Judy Longworth and Dr. Yolanda Davila provided leadership in the mentoring of three undergraduate students who participated in a summer work-study experience at the University of Michigan in 2001.  The original term, MESA-CP, originated from a suggestion of the undergraduate nursing students during a roundtable discussion related to the development and implementation of the supplemental study. MESA-CP is an acronym for Michigan en San Antonio - Collaborative Project a title that highlights the partnership between UM-SON and UTHSCSA-SON. The term was chosen as the word "mesa" in Spanish means table and is a metaphor for "bringing ideas to the table" for mutual exchange and nurturance between the collaborative partners.

Children of diversity gatherin around the table Specific Aims:

  1. Research
    1. Conduct research addressing the reduction of health disparities through health promotion and health restoration.
    2. Develop culturally appropriate research methods for addressing health disparities.
    3. Conduct pilot studies in health disparities that will be foundational for further research.
  2. Mentoring
    1. Develop the research knowledge and skills of individuals (nursing faculty, post doctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students) related to health disparities.
    2. Develop web-enhanced modules focusing on cognitive skills, scientific knowledge and research skills to enhance students' and faculties' abilities to conduct research in health disparities.
    3. Develop a pipeline of minority and majority researchers competent to address health disparities, starting at the undergraduate level through graduate, post doctoral, and faculty levels.
  3. Infrastructure Development
    1. Expand the institutions' resources to support an increase in investigators and research related to health disparities research.
    2. Enhance the competence of all researchers to conduct health disparities research.

Send Comments to: Carrie Braden, PhD, RN  
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