The department of environmental and occupational health (EOH) and Center Minority Health (CMH) at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health have completed the first year of a five-year grant for Short Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) in the Environmental Health Sciences. The grant was awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to support an organized summer program of student research experiences with participating faculty in the environmental health sciences, and a program of informational exchange designed to convey an appreciation of research on the environmental impacts on human health.

The focus of both the laboratory experience and the educational experiences is on human health outcomes related to environmental exposure.

National and local leaders in environmental health science perceive a potential shortage of future public health investigators and practitioners, especially in environmental health science, due to a disconnect between enthusiasm for the topic among young students and a lack of a clear undergraduate discipline in preparation for such a career. Accordingly, a short-term, intensive experience for high school and undergraduate students that introduces them to environmental health science and allows them to participate in contemporary research is critical to reversing this trend. Health disparities that arise from an uneven burden of exposures of underrepresented minorities to various environmental agents add to the sense of urgency in recruiting future scientific leaders from these groups.

The principal investigator on GSPH’s STEER grant is Dr. Bruce Pitt, chairman of EOH; the co-investigator is Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, director of CMH. Dr. James Butler, program director for CMH, used platforms already in place for Healthy Class of 2010, a multi-year campaign to promote health and prevent disease among sixth grade students enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools, to draw from the talented and strongly diverse population of the schools.

Sixty applications were received from students with high grade point averages, with relevant experience and interests, and reflective of the demographics of the Pittsburgh school system. Six students from different high schools were selected and recently were highlighted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for the research work they are involved in at EOH and the impact of the program on their career plans. Partners at Pittsburgh’s Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University’s Office of Diversity in the Health Sciences have also enriched the value and experiences of this first group of students.

[The students pictured in the photo above are: (back row, left to right) Mr. Will Tolliver, STEER; Mr. Mitch Thompson, summer undergrad intern; Mr. Ricki Scott, STEER; and Mr. Chris Price, STEER. (front row, left to right) Ms. Lindsey Wright, summer undergrad intern; Ms. Alexis Carter, STEER; Ms. Megan Ziegler, STEER; and Ms. Abbe Jackson, summer undergrad intern.]