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This ancient Chinese quote has been the underlying premise of the cooperative agreement between the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools, Inc. (AMHPS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. For the past 15 years this partnership has highlighted the potential adverse health effects of select toxins which are often found in minority and underserved populations.
The partnership has also provided AMHPS participating institutions with the resources to research and improve their individual communities. Heavy Metal studies at Xavier University of Louisiana have helped to empower communities concerned with lead in the environment; the Community-based Internships at Florida A & M University have given lay people the tools to ensure an environmentally safe community; and medical residents through the Environmental Medical Rotation program at the Morehouse School of Medicine, have been trained to look out side the box when diagnosing a patients illness in considering whether or not the environment is a contributing factor. More importantly this partnership has allowed AMHPS and ATSDR to teach rather than give.
This cooperative agreement has provided workshops in Research Administration, Lab Safety, Ethics in Research, Care and Use of Humans and Animals in research, Grant Proposal Development, Manuscript development, and Project Management for faculty and staff from AMHPS member schools and other non affiliated institutions of higher learning. It brought together leading scientists, individuals from the academic community, and government officials for a scientific colloquium regarding the impact of environmental health research on public policy. Two impact studies on the program have been published as well as a host of brochures, and presentations specifically created for the general public to promoting healthy communities and influence behavior change.
The funding from this cooperative agreement has given AMHPS as a whole the knowledge and the tools to continue this research long after funding has ceased, it will teach the general public how to systematically act on its on behalf and influence a new generation of scientist to practice with the environment in mind. It is our hope that when you end this visit to our site you understand why Lao Tzu’s quote is the driving force behind our tireless efforts in the administration of these cooperative agreements: to provide our communities and then the world with the tools to feed themselves for a life time.
Eme Anderson
Editor
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