Improving health literacy and career awareness in underserved communities
PATHS
The PATHS project is all about helping teachers and students in Virginia's underserved communities learn more about health careers and improve their health knowledge, so they can better understand and prepare for jobs in fields like physical therapy and dental hygiene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10916430 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The PATHS project aims to enhance health literacy and career awareness among teachers and students in underserved rural and urban communities in Virginia. This initiative will engage secondary teachers in a model program that provides curriculum and pedagogical support focused on health professions such as Medical Lab Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiation Science, and Dental Hygiene. Through professional development, teachers will learn to incorporate culturally responsive practices and utilize web-based modular units that cover essential skills and knowledge in health professions. The program also emphasizes the impact of social determinants of health and equips participants with the ability to work with large data sets related to precision health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this program include secondary school teachers and students from historically underserved communities interested in health careers.
Not a fit: Patients who are not involved in educational settings or who do not reside in the targeted underserved communities may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower students and teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in health professions, ultimately improving health outcomes in their communities.
How similar studies have performed: Similar educational initiatives have shown success in enhancing health literacy and career awareness in underserved populations, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Edmondson, Elizabeth — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Edmondson, Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.