Educational Projects
EXPORT K-12 Education Programs
In 2003, the former Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH, now DH-CHEER) was awarded its original P60 Center Grant to establish a Center of Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach Research on Health Disparities and Training (Project EXPORT). In 2007, the CRMH successfully competed for the renewal of the Project EXPORT grant also known as Project EXPORT - A Center of Excellence (PEACE). This center grant provides support for long-term, multidisciplinary programs of research, education and community outreach in critically underserved areas in Houston.
As supplemental funding to the EXPORT PEACE grant, DH-CHEER was awarded the K-12 Supplement: A Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Science Education in Underrepresented Populations. The K-12 Supplement offers four levels of educational programs and training for students and teachers. Though each program has its own specific aims, the overall goals are to increase the number of under represented minorities in careers that focus on the areas of biomedical health science. To accomplish this we seek to enhance science education by providing them with the scientific foundation necessary to successfully pursue health professions and biomedical research careers. DH-CHEER, Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD), Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, and Texas A&M University formed a partnership to develop an educational intervention project focused on achievement in the area of environmental health sciences. The K-12 Supplement focuses on disseminating the SCIENCE Project’s activities (see Elementary School Program) to schools in Fort Bend ISD and LaJoya ISD, expanding the PIPELINE Scientific Training Summer Program (9-12) to include more schools and students, and development of the Middle School Science Program and professional development for teachers at the Environmental Health Sciences Summer Institute in Austin, TX. (www.k12summerinstitute.mdanderson.org) .
Elementary School Program
The Science Centered Inquiry-Based Educational Activities iN Collaborating Elementary Classrooms (SCIENCE) Project is an educational intervention for elementary students. The goal of SCIENCE Project was to develop the initial phase of a pipeline program aimed at providing an adequate scientific foundation that will enable minority students to progress successfully through their education.. The initial grant, funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Minority Health Research and Education Grant Program, utilizes inquiry-based science instruction to improve K-5 teachers' science knowledge and pedagogical skills. The project included an the Environmental Health Sciences Summer Institute (www.k12summerinstutute.mdanderson.org) in Austin, TX which continues to provide professional development and valuable information on multiple strategies used in teaching environmental health sciences to Hispanic and African-American students in FBISD. The SCIENCE Project developed and implemented SCIENCE Centers supplied with science education materials for teachers and students to conduct hands-on inquiry-based science activities. Currently, the SCIENCE Project is being disseminated to other Houston area school districts and school districts in the Rio Grand Valley. For more information, please contact Ms. Anissa J. Lewis at ajlewis@mdanderson.org / (713) 563-4006.
Middle School Science Program
The Middle School Science Program is an educational intervention program for middle school students that focuses on leadership skills, career exploration, and college preparation. In collaboration with the Greater Houston Area Health Education Center (AHEC), CHEER introduced middle school students to careers in public health, science and research awareness, health career exploration, student academic achievement, and mentoring. DH-CHEER faculty and staff participate in various school events such as Science fair judging and Career Day, exposing students to public health professionals and research staff. For more information, please contact Karyn Kirkendoll -Harvey at kjkirken@mdanderson.org / (713) 745-3591or Anissa J. Lewis at ajlewis@mdanderson.org / (713) 563-4006.
High School Program
The PIPELINE Scientific Training Program is an 8-week summer internship for high school juniors and seniors that exposes them to careers in healthcare and allows them to work directly with ongoing research in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a full-time member of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center faculty. Students work five days a week on research projects that provide them with a clear knowledge of what it means to be a researcher as well as an understanding of the disciplines required. Students have access to and are exposed to MD Anderson and as well as other HDEART Consortium member institutions in the Texas Medical Center. The students culminate the program by preparing oral and written reports of activities for presentation to fellow students and their research sponsors. Students receive a stipend for participating in the program. Enrollment is closed for this year.
We are proud to say that the PIPELINE Program was awarded the Texas Association for Partners in Education Crystal Award for Texas Collegiate Partners.
For more information, please contact Karyn Kirkendoll - Harvey at kjkirken@mdanderson.org / (713) 745-3591.