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University of Texas at Austin joins with New Mexico State University to establish center focusing on health disparities in low-income areasDecember 10, 2002 AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. Lynn Rew of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing has received a five-year, $1.5 million grant to establish an exploratory research center focusing on health inequalities in rural, low-income, Mexican American and American Indian populations. The Southwest Partnership Center for Nursing Research on Health Disparities will be a partnership with the nursing faculty at New Mexico State University. Funding is from the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health. According to Rew, there are several reasons why it is critical to focus efforts in this area: A prevalence of health disparities resulting from geographic location, income, race and ethnicity, a lack of research on health promotion in racial and ethnic minorities, and the scarcity of nurses and nurse scientists in these groups. "Efforts at the center will concentrate on expanding the preparation of nurses from minority populations and expanding research aimed at improving health and health care in these underserved populations," said Rew, who holds the Denton and Louise Cooley and Family Centennial Professorship. In addition to Rew, other university faculty involved in the grant include Drs. Lorraine Walker, David Kahn, Sharon Horner, Alexa Stuifbergen, Heather Becker, Shirley Laffrey, Kathy May, Cindy Conger and post-doctoral fellow Alexandra Garcia. For more information contact: Nancy Neff, Office of Public Affairs, 512-471-6504. |
