K-State scholarship grant supports public health workforce training for Kansas, nation
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022
K-State Master of Public Health students Nokwanda Hlophe, left, and Toni Rose Barroga, right, attend the 2022 Riley County Community Health Improvement Plan meeting with Ellyn Mulcahy, center, director of the university's Master of Public Health Program. A new grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration will allow K-State to offer scholarships to up to 73 students in the Master of Public Health program over three years. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — A new grant leverages expertise in public health education at Kansas State University to promote the expansion of public health systems and workforce through strategic scholarships.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration approved a three-year $1,486,217 grant for the program Ready to Serve: Building a Day-1-Ready Public Health Workforce for Kansas and Beyond.
The grant allows the university to offer up to 73 scholarships for tuition, supplies, books and travel for part-time and full-time students in the K-State Master of Public Health program emphasis areas. Students pursuing a public health graduate certificate and in accelerated degree paths such as the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Public Health degree program or concurrent public health bachelor's degree/Master of Public Health program are eligible.
"This funding will allow us to offer scholarships for up to 73 students over three years," said Ellyn Mulcahy, principal investigator and director of the K-State Master of Public Health program. "We will provide scholarships for tuition, supplies and books, and travel for part-time and full-time students in our Master of Public Health emphasis areas and graduate certificate, including for students who are pursuing accelerated degree paths such as the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Public Health and public health bachelor's degree/Master of Public Health students."
"This project will train career-ready professionals prepared for the public health workforce by awarding scholarships for tuition and training in both the graduate public health certificate and Master of Public Health programs," said Ellyn Mulcahy, director of the Master of Public Health program. "Scholarships for graduate public health certificates and Master of Public Health degrees will be awarded to 41 trainees in year one, 21 new trainees in year two and 11 new trainees in year three. A total of 73 trainees in public health will be prepared for careers in public health to meet the public health needs of Kansas and our nation."
Mulcahy said the objectives of the program include expanding public health systems' capacities by recruiting and training day-one-ready public health workers; meeting public health workforce needs for skilled workers by deploying an equity-infused training program; facilitating career planning for public health trainees through a career readiness and mentoring program using public health partners; and identifying and delivering practicum sites for public health trainees with public health partners, and experiential-learning exposure to career opportunities.
The project team also includes Susan Rensing, co-principal investigator and teaching associate professor of social transformation studies; Justin Kastner, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Kate KuKanich, professor of small animal internal medicine; Jennifer Miller, director of the bachelor's degree program in public health; Elaine Johannes, associate professor of applied human sciences and extension specialist; and Fred Burrack, director of assessment.
Students must apply and be accepted into the K-State Master of Public Health program to be eligible for these scholarships. Details on how to apply will be announced before the spring 2023 semester. Apply for the program at k-state.edu/mphealth/admissions.
