Understanding one’s community is an essential part of public health. Thanks to a grant from Interfaith America, students in California State University, Bakersfield’s public health program will now learn more about the role religion plays in individual and community health.
The nonprofit Interfaith America has given CSUB $4,000 to integrate discussions of religious diversity and public health into the university’s Introduction to Public Health course. Seeking the grant was a joint effort between Assistant Professor of Public Health Dr. Linh Bui and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Joseph Florez.
“One of the course objectives is for students to identify different determinants of health, of which culture and religion are among the important ones, and understand how those factors impact health or contribute to health disparities,” Dr. Bui said. “Updates to the class will provide students a deeper understanding of how religion and culture influence communities’ health behaviors.”
Grant-funded activities will include engagement with local religious leaders to discuss the specific health challenges their communities face and how to address those challenges in a culturally responsive way, Dr. Florez said.
“These communities are well-established and present wide-ranging opportunities for collaboration between CSUB and its surroundings,” he said.
The grant’s three goals are to give students diverse tools and experiences to broaden their understanding of different world views of health and healing, help students learn how religious and cultural perspectives impact public health interventions and facilitate students’ engagement with these different communities locally to develop culturally sensitive public health interventions.
“Engagement with local religious community leaders will not only help students understand unique health issues faced by these communities but also teach them how important it is to involve communities in the development of public health interventions that are effective and sustainable,” Dr. Bui said.
Interfaith America is interested in funding projects like this because efforts to improve multicultural awareness in public health have been linked to improved health outcomes. Drs. Bui and Florez are looking forward to bringing their disciplines together to help both students and the communities they will go on to serve as public health professionals.
“I think this grant will help build connections across departments as we recognize the interrelated nature of both of our research topics and teaching,” Dr. Florez said.
“This grant reflects the interdisciplinary aspect of public health,” Dr. Bui agreed. “I am excited that the public health program continues building collaboration across campus to provide our students a better learning opportunity.”
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