The Research Training Core develops, implements and evaluates research development activities related to conducting health disparities research; provides training on issues related to developing cultural competence; increase the number of potential investigators from racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity groups; and identifies and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration to promote the conduct of health disparities research spanning the disciplines of social, behavioral and biomedical sciences.

The aims of the Training Core are to:

  1. Develop, implement and evaluate research activities related to conducting health disparities research;
  2. Provide training to increase cultural competence;
  3. Increase the number of potential researchers from racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity groups; and,
  4. Facilitate interdisciplinary research collaboration
The Training Core is involved in the development of a Masters degree program in Medical Biotechnology at the UICOM-R campus. The Training Core also is involved in the development of a university-wide Rural Health Disparities Research Network among UI faculty and graduate students. Activities include graduate research support awards and a rural health disparities research symposium on April 21, 2006. For additional information contact Dr. Howard Zeitz at hzeitz@uic.edu or Dr. Martin MacDowell at mmacd@uic.edu.

In addition, the training core is coordinating the development of a curriculum for medical students that is intended to raise awareness of the role of culture in health care activities and the importance of cultural competency for practicing health care professionals. Five modules compose the current 12 session seminar offered in AY 2005-06 to second year medical students on the UI at Rockford campus. Specifically the objectives include:

Module I: Cultural Issues -Rationale, Context, and Definition
1) Define and explain the importance of cultural effectiveness/proficiency in patient care
2) Define race, ethnicity, and culture, including the culture of medicine
3) Conduct self-assessment and reflection, and develop self-awareness of their own culture’s assumptions, stereotypes, and biases

Module II: Key Aspects of Cultural Effectiveness/proficiency
4) Give examples of how a patient's healing traditions can influence health
5) Define and give examples of institutional cultural issues
6) Obtain accurate information concerning the history of a patient and his/her community of people

Module III: Understanding the Impact of Stereotyping on Medical Decision-Making
7) Give examples of bias, stereotyping, discrimination, and racism in patient care situations
8) Explain the history of stereotyping, including its impact on limiting access to health care and understanding of health issues
9) Describe how the effects of stereotyping can adversely impact patient care

Module IV: Health Disparities and Factors Influencing Health
10) Describe demographic patterns in health care disparities, both local and national
11) List examples of key socioeconomic, environment, institutional, and racial/ethnic factors underlying health and health care disparities focusing on health literacy
12) Describe feasible options for collaborating with communities to eliminate disparities