The Harvard Center for Society and Health trains domestic and international leaders on the social determinants of health. To this end, the Center participates in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars Program and the Kellogg Scholars in Health Disparities Program.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars is designed to build the nation's capacity for research, leadership and action to address the broad range of factors affecting the health of populations. Each year the program supports up to 18 outstanding individuals who have completed doctoral training to engage in an intensive two-year interdisciplinary program in population health at one of six nationally prominent universities, including Harvard. To learn more about the program, go to: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/society/edu_rwj_index.html

Kellogg Scholars in Health Disparities Program

The Kellogg Scholars in Health Disparities Program is preparing a new generation of minority scientists for careers and leadership roles in health disparities research, health policy research and health policy and practice. The program is supporting a cadre of creative thinkers - largely from minority groups and with a passion for health equity and social justice - trained in behavioral and social science disciplines, epidemiology and related biomedical sciences and public policy. Minority groups have been under-represented to date in leadership roles in academic health-related careers and in national health and public policy development. This program encourages individuals interested in health disparities issues to turn their intellectual energies early in their careers to:

research questions that relate to the understanding of health disparities by race/ethnicity, gender and income/ socioeconomic status; study mechanisms and pathways by which structural social, economic, political, environmental and educational inequalities, institutional racism and discrimination affect health; and develop private sector and public policy frameworks and programs to eliminate health disparities

In 2006, the Harvard Center for Society and Health welcomed a new scholar, Kalahn Taylor-Clark. For more on the Kellogg program and Dr. Taylor-Clark, go to: http://www.kellogghealthscholars.org/