Building Trust Between Minorities and Researchers

According to the NIH, the recruitment and retention of racial and ethnic minorities into clinical trials is a leading challenge confronting clinical researchers, and undoubtedly contributes to the persistence of health disparities. Our nation lacks scientific consensus about the methods and procedures needed to effectively and respectfully increase participation of minority populations in biomedical and public health research. Much of the published literature is focused on religious, spiritual, and cultural beliefs among minorities as the primary barriers to increased participation. Far less has been published on the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and cultural competence of researchers as potential barriers to increased participation of minorities in research.more »

Prince George's County Public Health Impact Assessment

The Prince George's County Public Health Impact Assessment Survey is a telephone survey that will take place in January and February 2012. Residents will be contacted and asked to answer a series of questions regarding their views of health and health care in the county. The survey is part of a larger public health impact study that the University of Maryland's School of Public Health is conducting at the request of the University of Maryland Medical System Corp.; the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; the University System of Maryland; the Office of the County Executive, Prince George's County; and Dimensions Healthcare Corp.more »

Health Policy Research

The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation this session that creates programs to improve health in underserved communities and to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities throughout the state. Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reductions Act (SB 234) into law on April 10 at a ceremony attended by several University of Maryland School of Public Health faculty members and other allies. The legislation will position the state of Maryland as a leader in the national effort to eliminate health disparities.  We will use this section of our website to document progress on implementation of this historic new law and related matters. more »