S.U.P.E.R. Project

The S.U.P.E.R. (Serving Underrepresented Populations through Engagement and Research) Project is an opportunity for undergraduate populations to attain a public health foundation and conduct community-based research, focusing on health disparities that affect underrepresented populations in Arkansas initiated in 2020.

About the Program

The mission of UAMS is to improve the health, health care and well-being of Arkansans and others in the region, nation and the world by educating current and future health professionals and the public, which aligns with one of the main objectives of the S.U.P.E.R. Project. S.U.P.E.R. is a component of the HBCU Med Track Program, which serves as a conduit that equips college students (Student Health Advocates) with a public health foundation, community-based research skills and experience, insight on health disparities, and professional development, while bringing awareness and education to underrepresented groups/communities in Arkansas about healthier lifestyle choices. This is one of several ways to reshape the overall population health of the Natural State.

Criteria

• must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• at least 18 years of age.
• minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better (on a 4.0 scale).
• Be classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior
• enrolled full-time at any 4-year public university in Arkansas.

Staff

Program Timeline

Nov 1- March 17	APPLY Submit applications, candidate selections
April 18	ENROLL Onboarding, receive program information
July 23 – Aug 2	TRAINING Summer Institute (research training)
Sept- Mar	RESEARCH Conduct research, community engagement, work w/ faculty mentor, analyze results
March-April	PRESENT Present research at XULA Health Disparities Conference and additional research forums
May	WRAP-UP Submit final literature review, manuscript (optional)

Student Projects by Year (Cohort)

Student Health Advocates (2020-2021)

Student Health Advocates:	Campus:	Research Title	Faculty Mentors:	Campus Affil:
Bones, Marissa	UAPB	Exploring the Connection Between Interpersonal Relationships and Gun Violence Among Black Men in Arkansas	Nakita Lovelady-Herd, PhD, MPH | Traci Hudson, PhD	UAMS | UAPB
Camp, Kelin	UAPB	Significance of Oral Health: Implications for Patients With Heart Disease	Tremaine Williams, EdD |Joy Jackson, PhD, MPH	UAMS | UAPB
Culton, Brooklyn	UAPB	A Look Into the Miseducation of HIV/AIDS Among African Americans at Historically Black Colleges/Universities	Clare Brown, DrPH, MPH | Alexis Davis, PhD	UAMS | PSC
Duncan, Lynn	UAPB	Assessing Gestational Diabetes in Urban African American Women	Antino Allen, PhD | Joy Jackson, PhD, MPH	UAMS | UAPB
Hinton, Raven	PSC	The Socioecological Influences of Treating Comorbid Depression and Alcoholism	Sharon Sanders, PhD, MPH | Jocelyn Moore, PhD	UAMS | PSC
Lindsey, Veronica	PSC	Safe Sleep Knowledge Among African American College-Aged Women	Latoya Blanks, DrPH | Anthonya Cooper, PhD	UAMS | PSC
Mason, Katelyn	UAPB	Minority Perceptions of Emergency Services in Arkansas	Kristy Caldwell, DrPH, MPH | P. Kelley, PhD	UAMS | PSC

Student Health Advocates (2021-2022)

Student Health Advocates:	Campus:	Research Title	Faculty Mentors:	Campus Affil:
Adams, Cydni	UAPB	Lack of Treatment/Treatment Planning for People With Sickle Cell Disease	Joy Jackson, PhD, MPH	UAPB
Bell, Christy	PSC	Maternal Education Program for College Students	Sharon Sanders, PhD, MPH	UAMS
Jackson, Genesis	UAPB	How Living in Rural Areas Increases the Risk of Developing Diabetes	Zeeshan Habeeb, PhD	UAPB
Jenkins, Ciara	PSC	The Lack of Healthy Food Options and Nutritional Balance at an HBCU in Central Arkansas	Clare Brown, DrPH, MPH ; Grover Miller, PhD	UAMS
Perkins, Asia	UAPB	Lack of Diversity in Doctors’ Offices Leading to Mistrust in African American Men	Mohommad Morshed, PhD	UAPB
Vincent, Re’Nyah	UAPB	Evaluating How Living in Highly Polluted Areas Result in Ineffective Asthma Control	Traci Hudson, PhD	UAPB
Wilson, Colby	UCA	The Inner Relation Between Oral Health and Erectile Dysfunction	Tremaine Williams, EdD	UAMS

Student Health Advocates (2022-2023)

Student Health Advocates:	Campus:	Research Title	Faculty Mentors:	Campus Affil:
Dean, D’Nyla	Dillard	How Women’s Food Choices Affect Their Reproductive Health	Rachel Reed, DrPH, MPH | Samantha Gerlach, PhD	Dillard
Gabriel, Caleb	Dillard	The Positive Affects of Hip Hop Music on the Mental Health of Black Men & Women	Grover Miller, PhD	UAMS
Hicks, Kennedy	U of A	How Access to STEM Courses Affect Your Socioeconomic Status	Clare Brown, DrPH, MPH	UAMS
Jenkins, Ciara	PSC	The Lack of Healthy Food Options and Nutritional Balance at an HBCU in Central Arkansas	Clare Brown, DrPH, MPH ; Grover Miller, PhD	UAMS
Jimmerson, Kandace	UAPB	The Lack of Support Minority Women Receive With Breastfeeding	Zeeshan Habeeb, PhD	UAPB
Roshell, Ashley	UAPB	The Impact of Unsafe Housing of HBCU Campuses	Vinay Raj, PhD	UAPB
Sanders, Jason	UAPB	Exploring the Coping and Mental Health Practices Among Surviving Families of Gunshot Victims	Nakita Lovelady-Herd, PhD, MPH	UAMS
Spinks, Jaliyah	JSU	The Infrequency of Support Service Animals for Minority Individuals Compared to Other Counterparts	Martha Tchounwou, PhD	JSU

Student Spotlight

HealthCare Herald

HealthCare Herald is a UAMS inaugural student-driven peer-review journal for underrepresented students (all education levels) to publish their findings that addresses health care issues in medically underserved populations in Arkansas. One of our Student Health Advocates were published in the inaugural issue. Please read below.

The HealthCare Herald has a rolling admission and is accepting ONLY student submissions. High school

https://regionalcampuses.uams.edu/journal/latest-issue/

2022 STEM Conference at the Rotunda

Two Student Health Advocates presented their research at the 2022 STEM Posters at the Capitol. Students presented on Asthma Control in Harsh Environments and the impact of Diabetes in Rural Arkansas. Genesis Jackson (left) and Re’Nyah Vincent (right) both are students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

16^th Health Disparities Conference at Xavier University

Student Health Advocates presented their research at the 16^th Health Disparities Conference hosted by Xavier University at Louisiana. Students represented the Philander Smith College, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Central Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Health Career University Program Application

Click the button below for the HCU Program Application

HCU Application

Participating Institutions