Church Leaders Made Partners in Health Education

Two separate projects—one in the College of Nursing and one in the College of Medicine—are enlisting the help and support of church leaders in the African-American community to improve education, prevention and treatment for two very serious health concerns: HIV and depression.

Jean Anthony, PhD, a registered nurse and associate professor in UC’s College of Nursing, sees value in capitalizing on the relationship many African-Americans have with their religious institutions and believes improved awareness of depression signs and symptoms, and a better understanding of depression in general, could lead to increases in the number of people seeking treatment and getting a correct diagnosis. Anthony has received funding from UC’s University Research Council to conduct education and research on this topic. Read more about Anthony’s study.

Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD, assistant professor of public health and family medicine at the UC College of Medicine, says HIV and AIDS are likely on the rise in Cincinnati and education efforts are needed to address this upcoming problem. Szaflarski has received funding through UC’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST)—the academic home of the university’s institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of health—to address this issue. Read more about Szaflarski’s study.