@article{a1b43dbfca1d42f8b0d74b517bcfbc0e,
title = "Engaging Native American High School Students in Public Health Career Preparation Through the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program",
abstract = "Native American1 populations are systematically marginalized in the healthcare and public health workforce. One effective approach to reduce health disparities and improve health care delivery among Indigenous populations is to train more Native American health professionals who integrate academic and cultural knowledge to understand and influence health behaviors and perspectives. Din{\'e} College partnered with Northern Arizona University to develop the Navajo Native American Research Center for Health (NARCH) Partnership, funded by the National Institutes of Health. The high school component of the Navajo NARCH Partnership created the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP), a 1-week summer training program providing exposure to health careers and mentorship in pursuing public health careers for Native American high school students. ISEP utilizes the Din{\'e} Educational Philosophy (DEP), a Navajo conceptual framework to serve as the foundation of the program. In 2020–2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the DEP model had to be incorporated in the Navajo NARCH high school virtual program activities. ISEP used 2018 and 2019 past program evaluation data to inform the virtual programming. Students' perception of the program was collected using an online Qualtrics evaluation questionnaire. Students stated appreciation for program staff, fellow students, peer mentors and culturally relevant learning experiences in both virtual and in-person environments. Recommendations included: expanding the length of ISEP and continuing the hands-on activities and Public Health Leadership series.",
keywords = "American Indian, Indigenous framework, Indigenous health, Native American, Navajo, STEM, high school, peer mentor",
author = "Dreifuss, {Heather M.} and Belin, {Kalvina L.} and Jamie Wilson and Shawndeena George and Waters, {Amber Rose} and Kahn, {Carmella B.} and Bauer, {Mark C.} and Teufel-Shone, {Nicolette I.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5S06GM123550. Funding Information: Recognizing the need for public health pathway programs, Din{\'e} College, a Navajo Nation tribal college, partnered with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to develop the Navajo Native American Research Center for Health (NARCH) Partnership funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences (5S06GM123550). The Navajo NARCH Partnership aims to develop Din{\'e} scientists and health professionals to enhance research skills and knowledge among high school, undergraduate, graduate students, and Din{\'e} health department employees. The Navajo NARCH Partnership's existing programs include a NAU Masters in Public Health with an Indigenous Health track, a Din{\'e} College 4 year undergraduate degree program in public health, a 10-week Summer Research Enhancement Program (SREP) for Indigenous undergraduate students () and high school outreach programs. During the academic year, current high school programs include dual credit classes through Din{\'e} College, monthly public health seminars, internships with local public health programs, and a service-learning program in collaboration with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and Din{\'e} College public health programs. The high school component of the Navajo NARCH Partnership, in collaboration with Central Consolidated School District's Shiprock High School located on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation, created the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP), a 1 week summer training program that provides exposure to and mentorship in pursuing public health careers for Native American high school students. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2022 Dreifuss, Belin, Wilson, George, Waters, Kahn, Bauer and Teufel-Shone.",
year = "2022",
month = feb,
day = "22",
doi = "10.3389/fpubh.2022.789994",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "10",
journal = "Frontiers in Public Health",
issn = "2296-2565",
publisher = "Frontiers Media S. A.",
}