The University of Massachusetts Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission announced a partnership that will provide college seniors with hands-on training in urban public health through internships and teaching roles. Starting this fall, students from UMass Boston's Urban Public Health degree program will deliver evidence-based health education to students at three Boston high schools: Roxbury Prep, Boston Prep, and Academy of the Pacific Rim.
The three-year-old Urban Public Health degree program currently serves 65 students and will expand to over 100 this fall when new first-year students arrive. The department prepares students for public health careers with a focus on diverse urban populations, offering courses in environmental health, epidemiology, data science, biostatistics, health care systems, and health communications.
Under the program, UMass students selected last spring will receive training this fall in adolescent health, health education, facilitation, and community engagement from Boston Public Health Commission staff and experts. In the spring semester, they will deliver evidence-based, culturally responsive health education to students at the three partner schools.
Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston, said the partnership demonstrates collaboration between institutions. "This partnership with UMass Boston is an excellent example of how universities and public health organizations can come together in a shared commitment to improving the well-being of our communities," he said. The program deepens the city's relationship with UMass Boston, described as its only public research university.
The initiative builds on the Boston Public Health Commission's work through Boston SPHERE, a coalition of colleges, universities, research centers, and academic medical centers working to bridge research and community health outcomes. It aligns with the agency's longstanding commitment to growing a diverse and culturally responsive public health workforce.