A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity

Training programs focused on developing the next generation of scholars with expertise in HIV and mental health are crucial for advancing health equity and cultivating a diverse workforce by supporting individuals with lived experience and a strong commitment to serving underserved communities. Howe...

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Main Authors: Jahn Jaramillo, Derrick Forney, Felicia O. Casanova, Naysha N. Shahid, Devina J. Boga, Nequiel Reyes, Renae Schmidt, Sannisha K. Dale, Daniel J. Feaster, Viviana E. Horigian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Critical Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2024.2434472
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author Jahn Jaramillo
Derrick Forney
Felicia O. Casanova
Naysha N. Shahid
Devina J. Boga
Nequiel Reyes
Renae Schmidt
Sannisha K. Dale
Daniel J. Feaster
Viviana E. Horigian
author_facet Jahn Jaramillo
Derrick Forney
Felicia O. Casanova
Naysha N. Shahid
Devina J. Boga
Nequiel Reyes
Renae Schmidt
Sannisha K. Dale
Daniel J. Feaster
Viviana E. Horigian
author_sort Jahn Jaramillo
collection DOAJ
description Training programs focused on developing the next generation of scholars with expertise in HIV and mental health are crucial for advancing health equity and cultivating a diverse workforce by supporting individuals with lived experience and a strong commitment to serving underserved communities. However, disparities persist in the workforce, particularly in the inclusion of professionals typically underrepresented in research. The aim of this commentary is to explore the strengths and challenges of a NIMH-funded training program (T32), Culturally focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity (CHANGE), at the University of Miami, with the goal of providing a series of general recommendations. The program excels in leveraging Miami’s unique context, recruiting a cohort of trainees committed to addressing HIV and mental health inequities, delivering a tailored curriculum, and providing strong leadership and mentorship networks to trainees. Additional opportunities for training programs that attract minoritized scholars to realize their vision include further increasing underrepresented scholars in health research, expanding federal funding and institutional investment in training programs, continuing to combat systemic inequities, fostering culturally-sensitive mentorship training, and building upon existing resources to provide trauma-informed support that acknowledges and addresses the unique, intersectional, and historical trauma experienced by trainees. We close with calls to action spanning institutional, community, and policy levels, urging scientists and decision-makers to actively address disparities in diversifying the HIV workforce, fostering equity, and creating inclusive training environments.
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spelling doaj-art-af015bb4074042bbbeb664d94f49fadd2024-12-17T07:39:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCritical Public Health0958-15961469-36822024-12-0134112310.1080/09581596.2024.2434472A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equityJahn Jaramillo0Derrick Forney1Felicia O. Casanova2Naysha N. Shahid3Devina J. Boga4Nequiel Reyes5Renae Schmidt6Sannisha K. Dale7Daniel J. Feaster8Viviana E. Horigian9Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USACenter for HIV and Research in Mental Health, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USATraining programs focused on developing the next generation of scholars with expertise in HIV and mental health are crucial for advancing health equity and cultivating a diverse workforce by supporting individuals with lived experience and a strong commitment to serving underserved communities. However, disparities persist in the workforce, particularly in the inclusion of professionals typically underrepresented in research. The aim of this commentary is to explore the strengths and challenges of a NIMH-funded training program (T32), Culturally focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity (CHANGE), at the University of Miami, with the goal of providing a series of general recommendations. The program excels in leveraging Miami’s unique context, recruiting a cohort of trainees committed to addressing HIV and mental health inequities, delivering a tailored curriculum, and providing strong leadership and mentorship networks to trainees. Additional opportunities for training programs that attract minoritized scholars to realize their vision include further increasing underrepresented scholars in health research, expanding federal funding and institutional investment in training programs, continuing to combat systemic inequities, fostering culturally-sensitive mentorship training, and building upon existing resources to provide trauma-informed support that acknowledges and addresses the unique, intersectional, and historical trauma experienced by trainees. We close with calls to action spanning institutional, community, and policy levels, urging scientists and decision-makers to actively address disparities in diversifying the HIV workforce, fostering equity, and creating inclusive training environments.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2024.2434472Training programsHIVmental healthworkforcediversity
spellingShingle Jahn Jaramillo
Derrick Forney
Felicia O. Casanova
Naysha N. Shahid
Devina J. Boga
Nequiel Reyes
Renae Schmidt
Sannisha K. Dale
Daniel J. Feaster
Viviana E. Horigian
A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
Critical Public Health
Training programs
HIV
mental health
workforce
diversity
title A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
title_full A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
title_fullStr A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
title_full_unstemmed A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
title_short A commentary on forging a path for CHANGE: culturally focused HIV training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
title_sort commentary on forging a path for change culturally focused hiv training for the next generation in pursuit of equity
topic Training programs
HIV
mental health
workforce
diversity
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2024.2434472
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