Centers of Excellence

Objective

The goal of this program is to assist eligible schools in supporting programs of excellence in health professions education for underrepresented minority (URM) individuals. The Centers of Excellence (COE) program is a catalyst for institutionalizing a commitment to underrepresented minority (URM) students/faculty and to serve as a national resource and educational center for diversity and minority health issues. Additionally, the COE program will help to strengthen the national capacity to produce a culturally competent healthcare workforce whose diversity is representative of the United States population.

Who Can Apply

• State
• Nonprofit Organization
• Not-for-Profit Organization
• Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government
• U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)

Eligible applicants include designated HBCUs and health professions schools that are accredited schools of allopathic medicine; osteopathic medicine; dentistry; pharmacy; or a graduate program in behavioral or mental health; or other public and nonprofit health or educational entities that meet the required conditions regarding: underrepresented minorities as described in Section 736 of the Public Health Service Act. Native American Centers of Excellence are eligible, as specified in statute. Eligible applicants must also have: (1) a significant number of underrepresented minority individuals enrolled in the schools; (2) been effective in assisting underrepresented minority students of the schools to complete the program of education and receive the degree involved; (3) been effective in recruiting underrepresented minority individuals to enroll in and graduate from the school, including providing scholarships and other financial assistance to such individuals and encouraging underrepresented minority students from all levels of the educational pipeline to pursue health professions careers; and (4) made significant recruitment efforts to increase the number of underrepresented minority individuals serving in faculty or administrative positions at the school.

Who Benefits

• Health Professional
• Veteran (including dependents)
• Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government
• Trainee

Designated HBCUs and eligible health professions schools must recruit and train a significant number of underrepresented minority students in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy; recruit, train, and retain underrepresented minority faculty recruitment; and facilitate faculty and student research activities.

Assistance Types

• Grant

Program Contact

LBrayboy@hrsa.gov
(301) 443-0827