What is ENRICHe?
The EVMS-Norfolk State University (NSU) Research and Training Incubator for Collaboration in Health equity (ENRICHe) is a vehicle to bring together researchers, clinicians, trainees, community members, and other experts to brainstorm and catalyze innovative strategies and programs to address health inequities affecting our community via research, training, and workforce development.
ENRICHe+
ENRICHe + is a collaboration between Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at 黑料不打烊 and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) which focuses on increasing team science related to health equity and health disparities research, diversifying the biomedical research workforce, and community-engaged research. The initiative involves a partnership between Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion, NSU, Hampton University (HU), and 黑料不打烊 (黑料不打烊).
ENRICHe+ activities include:
- Scientific networking and training opportunities
- Pilot studies to support collaborative inter-institution and community-engaged research
- Community-engaged research summer internship program for trainees at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion, NSU, 黑料不打烊 and HU
The goals of the initiative
- To develop a network of NSU and EVMS faculty focused on health disparities research through annual speed-networking activities and structured experiences for students to engage in research at both institutions and with national groups.
- To provide training focused on grantsmanship and team science and support in developing team projects.
- To facilitate training for community-engaged research, along with timely subject areas such as data analytics and population health.
- To provide seed funds for pilot projects.
- To host an Annual Health Disparities Workshop to highlight the work of ENRICHe participants and facilitate sharing of knowledge with national experts.
Pilot project emphasis areas
Supported projects will address one or more of these emphasis areas related to health equity:
- Barriers to care such as lack of insurance coverage.
- Innovative approaches to address inadequate supply of healthcare providers.
- Strategies for creating career pathways and increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce.
- Systemic social inequities and difficulties navigating the healthcare system contributing to the health disparities that prevent many Virginians from achieving optimal health.
- Innovative approaches, including community-engaged interventions, to addressing health disparities in the region.
Why is ENRICHe important?
The communities of Hampton Roads include ten independent cities, seven rural counties, and the Eastern Shore. Most of these localities contain primary care, mental, or dental health professional shortage areas.
Population
1,762,090 people in Hampton Roads
Poverty Levels
- 10% of households in VA live below the poverty line.
- 13.1% of households in Norfolk live below the poverty line.
Greater Hampton Roads is rich in diversity
To improve health outcomes, the healthcare workforce must mirror the diversity of our communities.
- White - 50.3%
- Black/African American - 28.9%
- 2+ races - 8.6%
- Hispanic/Latino - 8.1%
- Asian - 4.2%
Hypertension and diabetes
In Norfolk there is a high rate of deaths due to diabetes and a high rate of hospitalizations due to hypertension, which are both preventable.
- 35 per 100,000 deaths due to diabetes
- 7.2 per 10,000 adults hospitalizations due to hypertension
Both of these rates are higher than the rates in Virginia as a whole.
Cancer disparities
Deaths from prostate cancer per 100,000 males:
- Norfolk: 33.9
- Virginia: 20
Deaths from breast cancer per 100,000 females
- Norfolk: 23.8
- Virginia: 20.6
New diagnoses of colorectal cancer per 100,000
- Norfolk:35.8
- Virginia: 34.5
Data source:
