Opportunity Program Research Articles

A Study on the Global Opportunity Program Expanding Horizons and Fostering Global Engagement

The Global Opportunity Program (GOP) represents an ambitious initiative aimed at broadening educational and professional opportunities for students through international experiences. In an increasingly interconnected world, programs like the GOP are designed to equip students with the global competencies necessary for success in a diverse and rapidly changing environment. This study explores the objectives, implementation, and impact of the GOP, focusing on how it facilitates global engagement, enhances educational outcomes, and prepares students for the complexities of a globalized workforce. In an era marked by increasing globalization and interconnectedness, the ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts and work environments is becoming ever more essential. The GOP emerges as a pivotal educational initiative designed to equip students with the global competencies necessary to thrive in a dynamic international landscape. By providing opportunities for students to engage in international study, work, and community service, the GOP aims to expand educational horizons and foster a deeper understanding of global issues.

Comparing health service use before and after transition to a supported housing model for clients who experience severe and persistent mental illness in southwestern Ontario, Canada

Objective and ApproachBeginning in 2018, a provincially-funded custodial housing model in Ontario, Canada transitioned to a supported housing model that allowed more autonomy for clients who experience severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). The objective of this study was to compare health service use before and after transition to the new Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) program in southwestern Ontario between 2017 and 2019. Information about clients who transitioned to the CHO program were obtained from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and linked to health administrative data at ICES. Rates of emergency department (ED) visits, primary care visits, and specialist visits in the one year before and after implementation of the CHO program were compared using conditional Poisson models. ResultsOf the 368 clients, approximately 40% were female and the mean age was 57 years old. Compared to before the transition, clients had more primary care visits (rate ratio [RR] = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.07-1.37) and specialist visits (RR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.11-1.60) within the year after transition to the CHO program. There was no significant change in the use of emergency department visits following the transition (RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.96-1.50). ConclusionsSupported housing may be associated with greater use of primary and specialist care for clients who experience SPMI. ImplicationsThe new supported housing model may encourage clients to use more personalized health care, according to their specific needs. Such personalized support is crucial for clients with complex health care needs.

Supplier Communication and Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County,Kenya

The study investigates the relationship between supplier communication and the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Supplier communication was found to play a pivotal role in the operational efficiency and overall performance of MSMEs, especially in dynamic markets. Despite adopting Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices, many MSMEs continued to experience challenges such as poor record management, unclear expectations, and a lack of timely feedback. These communication issues contributed to delays, misunderstandings, and increased costs, which negatively impacted business growth. The study applied the Communication Accommodation Theory to explain how MSMEs adapted their communication styles in both high-context and low-context cultures. Using a cross-sectional research design, the study collected data from 373 MSMEs under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between supplier communication and performance, with regression analysis showing that supplier communication explained 58.7% of the variance in MSME performance. The findings aligned with previous studies, emphasizing the importance of communication for successful supplier collaboration and supply chain management. The study concluded that frequent, transparent communication with suppliers improved product and service delivery and operational efficiency. Recommendations included investing in technologies that enhance communication and developing policies to support ongoing supplier relationship management. Further research could explore the impact of digital technologies on supplier communication and how communication with international suppliers influences MSME performance.

Social media marketing and performance of youth owned SMES in Nairobi County, Kenya

Fast technological evolution and intensity of competition oblige companies to constantly seek for new ways to differentiate and offer added value to their customers. With the increasing popularity of social media, companies have started to consider this means as a new way to communicate with their customers and increase their brand reputation. One of the most notable phenomena of new media is how it has increased and created new forms of social interaction.In Kenya, despite the critical role played by the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, research has shown that 90% business startups fail in their third year and especially those owned by the youths The general purpose of the study was to establish the influence of social media marketing on performance of small and medium businesses in Nairobi’s industrial area. This study adopted a descriptive research design. Official records of AGPO as at December 2023 showed that there are 13,011 youth-owned businesses registered in the county of Nairobi with the Youth Access to Government Procurement Opportunities Program (YAGPO). The study used the 10-30% Mugenda Sampling principle to calculate the sample size of 130 SMEs. The first specific objective was to establish the extent Social Media Platforms Influence the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises. A Pearson correlation analysis was done to establish the relationship between social media platform on performance of SMEs and the result established a significant positive relationship between social media platform used and the performance of SMEs (r=.811, p value =0.000). The second specific objective was to establish the extent bloggers influence the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises. A Pearson correlation analysis was done to establish the relationship between blogger influence on performance of SMEs and the result established a significant positive relationship between blogger influence and the performance of SMEs (r=.730, p value =0.000). The third objective was to establish the extent social media messaging factors influence the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises. A Pearson correlation analysis was done to establish the relationship between messaging factors on performance of SMEs and the result established a significant positive relationship between social media messaging factors used and the performance of SMEs (r=.359, p value =0.000). The study concluded that use of social media marketing has a positive influence on performance of SMEs and recommended that there is need for SMEs to embrace the use of social media to market their products and that the government should support SMEs by providing affordable internet services.

NFAT5 upregulates osmolyte transporters to protect IMCD3 cells against hyperosmolarity

The kidney inner medulla is one of the only places in the body exposed to extremely high osmolarity, reaching up to 1300 mOsm, while the iso-osmotic cortex and plasma are ≍300m mOsm. Renal epithelial cells need a mechanism to address the stress that comes with hyperosmolarity. One possible mechanism is regulation of osmolyte transporters to increase intracellular osmolyte concentration and reduce osmotic stress. NFAT5 is an important factor in regulating renal epithelial cell responses to high osmolarity. We hypothesize that NFAT5 is protective in inner medullary collecting duct cells (IMCD3) via upregulation of key transporters. To test this hypothesis, we used CRISPR to delete NFAT5 in IMCD3 cells. IMCD3 -NFAT5 null (NFAT5 null) and control (Ctl, IMCD3) cells were used and cell death assessed. Cells were plated at the same concentrations, in media (320mmol) with additional osmolarities of: urea (160mmol), mannitol (160mmol) and salt (40 and 80 mmol). Cell death was measured over 5 days using Janus Green B, which permeates living cell membranes. Cells were incubated with Janus Green B, lysed and then absorbance measured with a spectrophotometer to determine concentration. Data were analyzed as mean ± SEM; cell confluence, two-way ANOVA, n=3-5. Total mRNA was also isolated for qPCR analysis and data expressed as a fold change (DCT) over housekeeping (PPIA). At iso-osmolarity (»300mOsm), no differences were observed between NFAT5 null and Ctl cells. However, by day 3, NFAT5 null cells had reduced cell growth in all hyperosmolar conditions: urea 160 mmol (1.192 ± 0.225 vs. 1.953 ± 0.167 Wt ****p<0.0001, n=4), mannitol 160 mmol (0.852 ± 0.135 vs. 1.683 ± 0.283 Wt ****p<0.0001, n=3-4), NaCl 40 mmol (1.745 ± 0.210 vs. 2.020 ± 0.252 Wt ****p<0.0001, n=4-5), NaCl 80 mmol (0.385 ± 0.059 vs. 1.089 ± 0.191 Wt ****p<0.0001, n=4-5). Interestingly, NFAT5 null cells recovered growth patterns similar to Ctl cells by day 5. This suggests that although NFAT5 is essential in the cellular response hyperosmolarity, other mechanisms are present that allow for adaptation over time. To address a possible mechanism, we performed qPCR investigating common osmo-protective genes. We hypothesized that expression is lower in the NFAT5 null cells as compared to Wt. When cultured with 40 mmol of NaCl (n=2), we found that the NFAT5 null cells showed a 3.31 fold reduction for SMIT1, a 2924.98 fold reduction for TauT, and a 4.91 fold reduction for BGT1 as compared to Wt, each of which are osmolyte transporters. Additionally, we saw a 161.46 fold reduction for AQP1, a water channel and a 4.91 fold reduction for Akr1b3, which influences water homeostasis, as compared to Wt. Together, these results suggest that NFAT5 is a critical regulator of both osmolyte and transporters. Here, we show that loss of NFAT5 reduces IMCD cell viability in the face of hyperosmotic stress, possibly through a reduction in key osmolyte transporters. These data suggest that NFAT5 is key in the renal epithelial cell response to, and survival in, the hyperosmolar environment of the inner medulla. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program grant NIH NIDDK DK115660-01A1 University of Utah DOIM, UCares. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

How They Eat: An Examination of Digestive Physiology of Sympatric Prickleback Fishes

How fishes thrive on different diets is not understood as well as for terrestrial animals. Thus, examining the flexibility of gut function in fishes with different diets provides insight into dietary specialization in the largest vertebrate class. In this study, we measured the amylolytic activities in the guts of closely related, sympatric species: Xiphister mucosus (herbivore), X. atropurpureus (omnivore), Phytichthys chirus (omnivore), and Anoplacharus purpurescens (carnivore). For all species, the amylase activity decreased moving distally along the intestine, but less so for the carnivorous A. purpurescens. Overall, our results—more elevated amylase activity in those fish eating more algae—agree with the Adaptive Modulation Hypothesis (AMH), which suggests that there should be a match between enzymatic activity and dietary substrate intake. Measurements of proteases and lipases are in progress, but we anticipate some support for AMH in other enzyme classes. Moreover, we are also measuring these same enzyme activities in these same species fed omnivorous or carnivorous diets in the laboratory. The flexibility of the intestines of the fish species to accommodate different food types provides insight into their roles in the ecosystems and how fixed the vertebrate digestive system can be. NSF IOS 1355224 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at University of California, Irvine. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Implementation of the Community Homes for Opportunity Program Among Community Mental Health Staff in Southwestern Ontario

Supportive housing programs such as the Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) that provide combined formal (off-site healthcare providers) and informal (on-site supports are effective in reducing erratic housing and homelessness. This study explored the views of the Community Mental Health Agency staff on their experiences with the CHO and related changes for further improvement of the program. We applied focused ethnographic techniques to recruit 47 agency staff from 28 group homes in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Focus group discussions were conducted at two-time points (baseline–spring 2018 and post-implementation – winter 2019). Data analysis guided by Leininger’s ethnographic qualitative analysis techniques produced three main themes and 11 subthemes themes. The main themes include facilitators of CHO, challenges to the CHO implementation, and strategies for improving the CHO program. Overall, supportive housing models have been found to constitute an effective pathway to reducing precarious housing and ending chronic homelessness for those in need while enhancing their social integration.

Nutrition Knowledge, Food Insecurity, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Underserved College Students

An online, cross-sectional survey examined food insecurity, adverse childhood experiences, academics, health status, dieting, and associations with nutrition knowledge among 83 freshmen Educational Opportunity Program university students in California. Mean (SD) nutrition knowledge was 13.6 (5.0) out of a perfect score of 29. Most students (84%) reported being food secure. The median adverse childhood experiences score was 1.00 (interquartile range, 0.00-3.00), an indication of intermediate risk for toxic stress, and the mean (SD) high school grade point average was 3.62 (0.38) out of 4. More adverse childhood experiences were associated with higher nutrition knowledge (P = .005). High school grade point average predicted nutrition knowledge (P = .003). The results may be helpful in designing larger, more representative studies of the Educational Opportunity Program population and finding helpful interventions.

Do participants in widening participation outreach programmes in England progress to selective universities at a higher rate than would otherwise be expected?

AbstractYoung people growing up in England from a poorer background are less likely to progress into higher education compared to their better off counterparts. This is especially true with respect to more selective universities. This study used government administrative data to gauge the effectiveness of the ‘Realising Opportunities’ programme, which provides a package of support to prospective university applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to facilitate their progression to more selective universities. Data was gathered concerning 769 16 to 18‐year‐old students who took part in the programme—which is delivered by a consortium of selective universities—between 2015 and 2017. This data revealed participants' personal characteristics (e.g., gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status), school attainment and eventual university destination (or lack thereof). Additionally, national administrative data was sourced from the Department for Education's National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency for the entire cohort of state school pupils in England who turned 16 in the 2014–2015 academic year. This national data was used to generate a statistical model that could predict the likelihood of a young person in England progressing to a selective university based on their school attainment and other personal characteristics. Data concerning the programme participants was fed through the model and it was observed that the number of participants who had in fact progressed to selective universities greatly exceeded that predicted. Participation in the Realising Opportunities programme therefore appeared to be positively associated with an increased likelihood of progression to a selective university.

Home Staff Perspectives on Implementation of the Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) Program in Southwestern Ontario

Home Staff Perspectives on Implementation of the Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) Program in Southwestern Ontario

H.O.P.E. grows: An academic-public health partnership to reimagine public health services and increase mental health access among socially vulnerable populations.

To illustrate the process of developing and sustaining an academic-public health partnership for behavioral health integration through an expansion of the Aligning Systems for Health (ASfH) framework. Practice-informed primary data (2017-2023) from the Holistic Opportunity Program for Everyone (HOPE) Initiative based in Charlotte, NC. The unit of analysis in this descriptive case study is inter-organizational, specifically focusing on an academic-public health relationship. We illustrate the partnership process across the ASfH four core areas, including key challenges and insights. Utilized a Critical Moments Reflection methodology and review of HOPE program data. (1) Formal partnership structures and processes are essential to monitoring the four ASfH core components for on-going system alignment. (2) Aligning systems for health principally involves two ecologies: (i) the health program and (ii) the partnership. The vitality and sustainability of both ecologies require continuous attention and resource investment. (3) Relationships rest at the heart of aligning systems. (4) With comparative advantages in research methods, the academic sector is especially poised to collaborate with healthcare systems and human service organizations to study, develop, implement, and scale evidence-based health interventions. The academic sector shares overlapping purposes with the public health, healthcare, and social services sectors while providing complementary value. It is a critical sectoral partner in advancing population health and health equity.

Self‐Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (HUD)

Self‐Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (HUD)

“I have my family right here”: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and peer support among a cohort of fosterscholars

This paper presents findings from a focus group conducted as part of a larger Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) study with a cohort of university students with experience in foster care. Six foster scholars (ages 18–21) participated in a research collective offered as a collaboration between the School of Social Welfare and the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) at a large Northeastern public research university. Over the course of several semesters, students received an overview of research methods, evaluated existing research regarding the educational outcomes of youth with foster care experience, then designed an interview guide for a focus group that they later participated in. Focus group data was transcribed and then analyzed in two ways, first through thematic content analysis using ATLAS TI qualitative software, and simultaneously through participatory narrative analysis using an adapted version of Carol Gilligan’s Listening Guide. The cluster of findings presented in this paper highlights co-researchers’ experiences of a YPAR approach to research. Three themes emerged: validation of experience and peer support, connection to available resources, and YPAR as a tool of collective action and empowerment. An overview of the significant actions and change efforts associated with the YPAR process is also provided. Findings highlight the importance of peer support and the possibility of participatory research approaches in catalyzing peer connectivity and agency among foster scholars in higher education. Integrating youth voice and perspective to the existing body of knowledge about youth with foster care experience in higher education adds an important perspective needed to more holistically understand what resources and supports are most critical in ensuring their success. Recommendations are made for both universities and child welfare scholars desiring to center the voices and experiences of youth with foster care experience.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CAREER PERCEPTIONS OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY STUDENTS BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study determined and compared the career perceptions of Tourism and Hospitality undergraduate students, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, in an emerging economy country, the approach is mixed methods and simple purposive random sampling technique. Responses from 212 students enrolled in the year 2022-II were obtained for the quantitative analysis. The Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test showed that the null hypothesis is rejected since the overall career perception was p = 0.000000159 and "p" is less than 0.05, so there is a significant difference in the career perception of students before and during the pandemic. For the qualitative part, through the interview guide, the results revealed that students perceive that the situation of the tourism industry has been severely affected; their career opportunities were entirely uncertain. Finally, it is proposed to implement a career opportunities program that caters to the desires and needs of the students to help them adapt to current events.

From oppression to opportunity: a pilot study of an intervention program for vulnerable first generation college students.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of a 10-week psycho-educational group intervention entitled "Oppression to Opportunity Program" (OOP), which was designed to enhance the academic adjustment of vulnerable, first-generation college students. Participants in the pilot group also experienced multiplicative vulnerabilities as result of the intersecting identities of race, ethnicity, income, religious affiliation, disabilities, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The OOP intervention consisted of eight modules, plus an orientation and a closing session, designed to lessen key barriers (e.g., lack of knowledge of resources, lack of access to high quality mentorships, feelings of isolation) to academic success. The modules incorporated written worksheets and experiential exercises to foster group discussion, participant self-reflection, and community belongingness. Each group met once weekly for 1 h each session over 10 weeks, and was facilitated by an advanced graduate student in counseling. Participants completed the College Self-Efficacy Inventory and Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire as a pretest and post-test, and qualitative after session questionnaires. MANOVA results did not demonstrate a significant difference between OOP (n = 30) and comparison group (n = 33) undergraduates on efficacy and student adaptation. However, ANCOVA results show the impact of group (OOP vs. comparison) on post-tests of self-efficacy and adaptation, while controlling for pre-tests as covariates. Male participants rated the module pertaining to goal setting and establishing role models as most favorable, while the emotional management module was most preferred by female participants. African American participants rated the module pertaining to identity affirmation as most beneficial and the emotional management module was most preferable for Hispanic Americans. Lastly, Caucasian Americans rated the module on finding and sustaining supportive relationships as most favorable. Preliminary results were promising, however, the OOP program needs to be replicated in larger samples. Recommendations were offered including lessons learned regarding challenges associated with the implementation of a pre-post non-equivalent group design. Lastly, the significance of being flexible while building a sense of community, and the importance of providing food, supportive counseling, and peer mentoring were emphasized.

0011 Daily verses circadian amplitude of the distal-proximal skin temperature gradient

Abstract Introduction Sleep, circadian rhythms, and thermoregulatory physiology are highly integrated and impact each other. The daily rhythm in the distal-proximal skin temperature gradient (DPG) is wider/more negative during wakefulness, and narrower/closer to zero during sleep. The circadian rhythm in the DPG is wider during the biological day and narrower during the biological night. Here we aimed to quantify and compare the amplitude of the daily rhythm in the DPG under wakefulness-sleep conditions versus the amplitude of the circadian rhythm in the DPG under sleep deprivation conditions to examine associations and magnitude differences. Methods Eleven [5 females] healthy adults [aged 27.6±10.2y, BMI 23.1±2.2 (mean±SD)] participated. After one week of at-home ambulatory monitoring with 8h per night sleep opportunities at habitual bedtimes, participants were studied in the laboratory for three days under controlled dim light (< 8 lux maximum) and ambient temperature conditions (22-24°C). Participants arrived in the afternoon, were kept awake 4h later than typical and scheduled to a 4h sleep opportunity. The next day, participants were sleep deprived for 28h followed by recovery sleep. Skin temperature was assessed every min with iButtons placed subclavicular (proximal skin temperature) and foot palmar (distal skin temperature). The DPG was calculated as difference between proximal and distal skin temperatures. A three-harmonic regression model was used to fit DPG data and derive daily and circadian rhythm amplitudes, and percent difference in amplitude was calculated. Pearson correlations were calculated between daily and circadian rhythm DPG amplitudes. Results DPG amplitude was significantly greater for daily versus circadian rhythm (p < 0.05). Percent difference analyses showed daily DPG rhythm was 57% larger than circadian DPG rhythm (SD 30%, range 22-134%). A significant correlation was found between daily and circadian rhythm DPG amplitudes (r = 0.71, p< 0.05). Conclusion The amplitudes of daily and circadian rhythms of the DPG are associated, but the daily rhythm amplitude is larger. Additional research is needed to compare the relative importance of daily versus circadian skin temperature amplitudes for sleep and circadian relevant outcomes. Support (if any) CurAegis Technologies Inc., Fundacio Joan Riera I Gubau, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program University of Colorado Boulder

Homeowner perspectives on the implementation of the Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) program: an ethnographic group homes study in Southwestern Ontario Canada

BackgroundThe global extant literature acknowledge that housing serves as a key social determinant of health. Housing interventions that involve group homes have been found to support the recovery of persons with mental illness and those with addiction issues. The current study explored the views of homeowners in relation to a supportive housing program called Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) that modernised a provincial group home program (Homes for Special Care [HSC]) and provided recommendations for improving the program implementation in other geographical areas of Ontario.MethodsWe applied ethnographic qualitative techniques to purposefully recruit 36 homeowner participants from 28 group homes in Southwest Ontario, Ontario Canada. Focus group discussions were conducted at two time points, during CHO program implementation (Fall 2018, and post implementation phases (Winter 2019) respectively.ResultsData analysis yielded 5 major themes. These include: (1) general impressions about the modernization process, (2) perceived social, economic and health outcomes, (3) enablers of the modernization program, (4) challenges to implementation of the modernization program, and (5) suggestions for implementation of the CHO in future.ConclusionsA more effective and expanded CHO program will need the effective collaboration of all stakeholders including homeowners for successful implementation.

Assessing Impact of Study Abroad on Graduation Rates of Underrepresented Students

Assessing Impact of Study Abroad on Graduation Rates of Underrepresented Students Tory L. Brundage (bio), Gayle Christensen (bio), Anne K. Althauser (bio), and Sudha Sharma (bio) EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Fueled by globalization, technological advances, and more accessible travel, the role of international education on college and university campuses has had a period of immense growth. According to the Institute of International Education's 2019 Open Doors report, just over 340,000 US students participated in a study abroad program for credit during the 2017–2018 academic year. The number of students choosing to study abroad has steadily increased over the past 25 years. Immediately prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, 10.9% of all undergraduates in the US studied abroad at some point while pursuing their degree. This rapid expansion has largely been welcomed on college campuses due to globalization and the sense that such opportunities can be transformational for students. Consequently, there is interest among administrators, scholars, instructors, and policymakers to better understand the effects of study abroad on student learning and outcomes. Though the COVID-19 global pandemic caused an unprecedented decrease in international education, the enduring forces of globalization will likely yield a strong return to study abroad programming when permitted and safe (Marginson, 2020). As such, it remains important to understand and assess outcomes related to study abroad participation at an institutional level. ASSESSING STUDY ABROAD The student success literature has evolved a substantial interest in understanding and implementing high-impact practices, aspects of the college student experience that positively influence college persistence and completion rates (Kuh, 2008). A promising supposition of Kuh's 2008 work was the notion that high-impact practices would not only increase student engagement and degree completion but that the effect would also be evident among historically underserved student populations. Additionally, the existing racial and ethnic disparities in higher education have led some to call for a more targeted focus on graduation rates across racial and ethnic student populations to identify the most impactful practices (Johnson & Stage, 2018; Stohs & Schutte, 2019). While multiple studies have examined the effect of studying abroad on graduation rates (Haupt et al. 2018), few have explored [End Page 239] how that effect may vary across student populations (Bell et al. 2021). Given that students of color have been consistently underrepresented in study abroad programs (International Institute of Education, 2019), there is a gap in the literature assessing study abroad for students of color as a high-impact practice. This inquiry aimed to (a) advance a common research model proposed in the literature for assessing study abroad and (b) use this model specifically to measure the impact of studying abroad on graduation rates for historically underserved student populations. METHODS This analysis used the Leveraging Education Abroad Participation for Graduation (GRAD LEAP) model (Haupt et al., 2018), which calls for a common approach to data analysis when exploring questions about the impact of education abroad on college student graduation rates. Study Setting and Participants This was a retrospective analysis of deidentified data accessed through an internal student database at a large, public research institution on the West Coast of the US. The campus has a formal Office of Study Abroad that supports students with selecting and participating in a wide range of international education programs offered by the institution. Additionally, the office has an adviser focused on equity and access, as well as a needs-based scholarship program for studying abroad. Furthermore, and relevant to this study, there are TRIO programs and Educational Opportunity Program offices that support students of color through a wide range of efforts, as well as race-conscious pipeline programs available in many academic pathways. The program offerings are similar to those offered at many large public institutions in the US. The study included enrollment and student academic records from first-time, first-year, and fully matriculated undergraduate enrollees during the 2012, 2013, and 2014 academic years. International students, defined as those studying on an F1 student visa, as well as students admitted through the transfer or post-baccalaureate application processes, were excluded. Using these criteria, a total of 15,620 unique records were included in the analysis. Within this overall population, 2...

The Effect of Rural Underserved Opportunities Program Participation on Medical Graduates' Decision to Work in Rural Areas.

There is a persistent rural physician shortage in the United States. Policies to scale up the health workforce in response to this shortage must include measures to draw and maintain existing and newly trained health care workers to rural regions. Prior studies have found that experience in community medicine in rural practice settings increases the likelihood of medical graduates practicing in those regions but have not accounted for selection bias. This study examined the impact of a community-based clinical immersion program on medical graduates' decision to work in rural regions, adjusting for covariates to control for selection bias. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and career interests and preferences for all 1,172 University of Washington School of Medicine graduates between 2009 and 2014 were collected. A logistic model (model 1) was used to evaluate the impact of Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) participation on the probability of physicians working in a rural region. Another model (model 2) included the propensity score as a covariate in the regression to control for possible confounding based on differences among those who did and did not participate in the RUOP. Of the 994 students included in the analysis, 570 (57.3%) participated in RUOP training, and 111 (11.2%) were currently working in rural communities after their training. Regression analysis results showed that the odds of working in a rural region were 1.83 times higher for graduates who participated in RUOP in model 1 ( P = .03) and 1.77 times higher in model 2 ( P = .04). The findings of this study emphasize that educational programs and policies are crucial public health interventions that can promote health equity through proper distribution of health care workers across rural regions of the United States.

Positive yet problematic: Lived experiences of racial and ethnic minority medical students during rural and urban underserved clinical rotations.

Medical students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) regularly experience mistreatment and discrimination. This study sought to understand these student experiences during rotations in rural and urban underserved community teaching sites. Self-identified BIPOC medical students who completed the University of Washington School of Medicine's Rural Underserved Opportunities Program from 2019 through 2021 were invited to participate in a 60- to 90-minute focus group discussion via Zoom. From August to September 2021, 4 focus groups and 1 individual interview were conducted with a total of 12 participants. A current BIPOC medical student facilitated the sessions utilizing questions developed by the research team. Four study team members coded transcripts for key themes related to experiences of microaggressions. All participants reported having an overall positive experience, but everyone also witnessed and/or experienced at least 1 microaggression. Unlike those in urban placements, participants placed in rural sites expressed anxiety about being in predominantly White communities and experienced feelings of racial and/or ethnic isolation during the rotation. Participants recommended that rural preceptors identify themselves as trusted advocates and the program should prioritize placing BIPOC students at diverse clinical sites. Medical schools must take action to address the mistreatment of BIPOC medical students in the clinical environment.Schools and rural training sites need to consider how to best support students to create an equitable learning environment and recruit more BIPOC physicians to rural practice.