As a core research area of the Section for Health Equity, the Health Disparities Research Training Program offers opportunities in partnership with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH), and NYU Langone’s Department of Population Health.

About the Health Disparities Research Training Program

Since 2005, our program has provided unique training, outreach, and research opportunities for students and health professionals seeking to gain knowledge and critical skills to better address health disparities among Asian American and other racial and ethnic minority populations. Through hands-on experience on a community-based participatory research project, program interns develop a deeper understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to research, outreach, community partnerships, and care delivery.

More than 300 college and graduate students and postgraduate health professionals have successfully participated in this initiative. Moreover, interns have routinely pointed to our program as a springboard for continued interest and achievement in the field of health disparities research or community health policy and advocacy. Past interns who are current students at the master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral level have reported not only that our program deepened their understanding of community-based participatory research methods, in Asian American communities and beyond, but it afforded them valuable collaborations with other young researchers, media, and community-based organizations committed to the health of immigrant populations.

Training Goals

We aim to achieve the following goals:

• increase competence and commitment among trainees to work in community-based participatory research on Asian American and other racial and ethnic minority health disparities
• increase the number of potential investigators from Asian American and other racial and ethnic minority populations to conduct research on health disparities
• broaden the number of research projects addressing health disparities among Asian American and other racial and ethnic minority populations

Whether they are involved in CSAAH’s current projects or student-initiated projects, our interns have the opportunity to develop skills such as partnership development, literature reviews, manuscript development, survey design, and data collection and analysis. Interns have opportunities to network with other health professionals and learn about the various opportunities available in the health field.

Summer Seminar Series

The Health Disparities Research Training Program’s Summer Seminar Series provides interns with an increased awareness of health issues affecting Asian American and other racial and ethnic minority populations, gaps in health status indicators, barriers and facilitators to both care delivery and research for these populations, and panels on careers in public health. Past summer seminars topics include introduction to community-based participatory research, conducting systematic and literature review, introduction to quantitative and qualitative research, basic concepts in survey design and administration, and mapping applications for community engaged research.

Program Eligibility

The Health Disparities Research Training Program is open to students and professionals in medicine, public health, social work, and nursing. Those studying or working in other health-related fields are encouraged to apply. We also consider physicians and other allied professionals at various levels of their careers who want to explore research opportunities.

Prospective candidates should have the following attributes:

• commitment to addressing minority health and health disparities
• willingness to work and learn from colleagues at varying levels of health expertise
• previous experience working with Asian American or other racial and ethnic minority communities
• interest or familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods

How to Apply

Applications for internships in our program are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter and resume to Rebecca Lee, MPA, at rebecca.lee3@nyulangone.org. Please highlight any language skills and indicate your level of proficiency.

Contact Us

For questions regarding the Health Disparities Research Training Program, please contact Rebecca Lee, MPA, program manager, at rebecca.lee3@nyulangone.org.