Training Sites

Morgan State University School Of Community Health And Policy

Contact Information
Director
Academic Resources
Community Resources
Scholars
The Scholar Experience

Contact Information

School of Community Health and Policy

Voice: 443-885-3238
Fax: 443-885-3209

1700 E. Coldspring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251

Director: Kim D. Sydnor


Director: Kim Dobson Sydnor, PhD

Kim D Sydnor, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy in the Behavioral Health Department where she serves as its Chair. She is a former Kellogg Health Disparities Scholar, one of the members of the original cohort of policy scholars. Her primary focus is the elimination of health disparities with focus on community-based programs that emphasize prevention. Dr. Sydnor's current research efforts are focused on program evaluation in two key areas: child development and problem solving courts focusing on mental health. More information.


Academic Resources

This will mark the second year for the post-doctoral Kellogg Health Scholar Program — Community Tracks in community-based participatory research (CBPR) at Morgan. Each scholar will receive a two-year postdoctoral experience.

Scholars have access to courses such as Health Law and Risk Management, Public Health and Health Disparities, Translation and Dissemination of Public Health Knowledge, as well as seminars addressing health policies with presentations from local legislators and government officials, as well as a host of other educational opportunities in the school. These are all salient learning experiences designed to facilitate advancing the knowledge and skills relevant for community engaged research. The School of Community Health and Policy also houses a Nursing Program, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as an undergraduate Nutrition. The School's vision and mission, as well as curriculum, are built upon commitment to community engagement and partnership. The university has a newly constructed library with ample study space. The recently constructed Student Center is host to many of the university's seminars and symposia designed for student enrichment.

Faculty advisors/mentors and research opportunities and linkages can be made via the Site Director. A faculty mentor, to be selected by the scholar(s), may come from any of 5 SCHP academic concentrations — Biostatistics; Environmental Health Sciences; Epidemiology; Health, Behavior and Society; and Health Policy and Management who are community engaged faculty. Scholars may also identify mentors outside of the school, in consultation with the Site Director. There are also research centers throughout the university that will provide opportunities for advancing skill and knowledge:
  • Institute for Urban Research — This is the primary social science research and training arm of Morgan State University which is officially designated as Maryland's urban serving university. The Institute has a core staff of experienced researchers who seek to improve the response of governmental, non-governmental, private, and other institutions to the challenges of poverty, unemployment, poor health, truancy, and other urban and regional problems. Research and outreach services associated with the Institute for Urban Research are:
    • Community Development Resource Center
    • Family Life Center
    • Survey Research Center

  • Center for Health Disparities Solutions — This center is dedicated to the elimination of disparities in health and health care among racial and ethnic populations, socioeconomic groups, and geopolitical categories. It is closely aligned with the School of Community Health and Policy. The center houses the Drug Abuse Research Program which focuses on substance use and mental health.
Current Community-based participatory Kellogg Scholar projects:
  • B'more Healthy is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project aimed to examine the contextual factors associated with the preconception and inter-conception health of adolescents age 16 - 24 residing in the Druid Heights, Upton, and Reservoir Hill communities in Baltimore, Maryland. DRU Mondawmin Health Families, Inc. is the community partner.

  • The Head Start Healthy Families Program, Health Bodies, Healthy Minds, is a CBPR project designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate nutrition and physical activity intervention to: 1) educate minority Head Start children, parents, and staff members about proper nutrition and physical activity choices, 2) influence participant behavior, and 3) function as a sustainable, user-friendly program for Head Start Centers. The primary goal of the project is to reduce the risk factors for overweight and obesity among preschool-aged (ages 2-5) minority children and their families. Union Baptist Head Start and St. Vincent's Head Start are community partners.

Community Resources

The School of Community Health and Policy has a number of current partnerships with community organizations across the city of Baltimore with whom the Scholar can connect. Scholars will have the opportunity to identify and develop their research from among partners. Current partnerships include the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), Latinos for Progress, and Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. Current emphasis is on developing partnerships in the communities directly surrounding the Morgan campus. The networks continue to extend as other communities in the city and Baltimore County seek to establish long lasting partnerships with funded and unfunded projects and programs. Select partners are listed under the "Community-Based Partner" section of this website.

Additional Community Health Partners:
  • People's Community Health Center
  • Pen Lucy Neighborhood Association
  • Sisters Together and Reaching (STAR)
  • The Leon Day Foundation
  • The Charm City Buccaneers
  • DRU Mondawmin Healthy Families, Inc.
  • Union Baptist Head Start Program
  • St. Vincent Head Start Program
  • Communities Organized to Improve Life (C.O.I.L.)
  • Northwood-Appold United Methodist Church (and Charter School)


Scholars

2009-2011 Cohort: Shalon Irving, PhD

2008-2010 Cohort: Caree J Jackson, PhD, and M Taqi Tirmazi, PhD


The Scholar Experience at Morgan State

Each scholar has the opportunity to craft the fellowship experience that suits his/her professional development needs as well as the strategic framework of the School of Community Health and Policy and the competencies of the fellowship. This tailored experience is developed in consultation with the Site Director and fully specified once Scholars have selected community and faculty mentors. Scholars choose from among existing community partnerships where faculty members are actively engaged in funded or unfunded projects.

Scholars are asked to develop and design an independent research project with the community mentor, in consultation with the faculty mentor. A second "mini" research project may be identified that is based upon existing or readily available data that the community partner has an interest in exploring; this is be designed to serve the needs of the organization. In developing the new project, Scholars may link with other community organizations that are not currently partnering with the university. The required Practicum experience for our masters and doctoral students provide an opportunity for Scholars to include these graduate students in their research.

It is expected that Scholars will develop at least two manuscripts during the fellowship, with minimum one submission before the end of the fellowship. There is also an expectation that the work generated through the community partnership will be submitted for co-presentation at a national conference agreed upon by the partner and scholar. Scholars are encouraged to work on grant submissions with faculty mentors as well as to identify a grant and submit during the second year of the fellowship. The second year will also be an opportunity year for teaching experience by guest lecturing in courses and/or the presentation of specialized seminars. Scholars are expected to host a health disparities event either on or off campus in the spring of each year.