1309C13077

Project Purpose:
The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) aspires to advance health equity and improve health outcomes through digital health equity, including increasing access to health and health-related careers predicated on digital literacy training and digital skills development. To accomplish this goal, the MSM "From Survivor to Innovator: Digital Health Equity and Community Impact" project will expand student access to basic technology and broadband, improve telehealth access in MSM's anchor community, expand science and health careers exploration with its educational partners, and improve MSM faculty's ability to integrate technology into the teaching and learning process. MSM hopes to understand the impact of increasing technological access and literacy will have on digital health equity.

Activities:
MSM will increase technological access and literacy, and thus digital health equity, in the anchor communities with four primary initiatives. The Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy (UHSA) Connects: The Community Broadband Initiative will expand the health careers pipeline for learners in grades K-8 and college. This project will provide technology, equipment, and access for students in K-8th grades and undergraduate programs from Atlanta communities impacted by limited investments in broadband internet connectivity. MSM's current UHSA prepares undergraduate students to compete and successfully matriculate into medical school and other professional health careers.

The MSM Digital Impact Initiative will mitigate inequities for students at the high school level by partnering with South Atlanta High School to expand broadband capabilities and tech access, and provide teacher and student tech training. These resources will allow MSM to expand opportunities for additional students in its existing STEAM and HCOP programs using technologies outlined in this proposal.

The Digital Health Educator Initiative is an MSM faculty development enhancement effort to include technology integration into MSM curriculum development and instructional design to improve teaching and learning delivery. Processes will utilize online training, technology coaching, seminars, external coaching, and peer coaching.

The MSM Health Equity for All Lives (HEAL) Initiative will expand existing student-run clinics via telehealth technologies, which contribute to the health equity of the underserved and uninsured populations by providing medical and screening services to local populations in anchor communities.

Outcomes:
The "From Survivor to Innovator: Digital Health Equity and Community Impact" project will achieve expanded student access to technology and programming to encourage more students to seek health careers and improve health outcomes for those in MSM's most at-risk communities. The UHSA Connects Community Broadband Initiative will result in increased digital literacy skills and increased awareness around health equity and the social determinants of health in the anchor community.

The MSM Digital Impact Initiative will provide improved broadband speeds, a digital health equity curriculum, computer labs equipped with distance learning technology, and improved college and career readiness at an anchor community high school.

The Digital Health Educator Initiative will develop and implement a scalable faculty development curriculum to improve MSM faculty's competencies in digital teaching to meet the need for digital health educators as technology plays an increasingly important role.

The MSM HEAL Initiative will enable physicians to reach more patients using telemedicine technology.

Beneficiaries:
This project will benefit Morehouse School of Medicine students and faculty, as well as K-12th grade students, residents, and patients at student-run clinics in the MSM anchor community in Atlanta, GA.

Subrecipient Activities (if applicable):
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.

The Morehouse School Of Medicine

TO PROVIDE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS IN ANCHOR COMMUNITIES: FOR THE PURCHASE OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE OR ANY ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT, OR TO HIRE AND TRAIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PERSONNEL; TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; TO OPERATE A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE); OR TO OPERATE A TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE LACK OF BROADBAND ACCESS, CONNECTIVITY, ADOPTION AND EQUITY AT OUR NATION¿S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS), TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (TCUS), AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS), AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES. TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; AND TO CONSORTIA INCLUDING MBES OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE THAT MBE OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY BUILDING THE DIGITAL CAPACITY OF THE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS AND FURTHERING BROADBAND ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND DIGITAL SKILLS WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES.

11.028 - Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Atlanta, Georgia 30310-1458 United States

Single Zip Code

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (NTIA-CMCPP-2021)

COVID-19 $4,231,058 (100%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the CARES Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 02/28/25 to 02/28/26 and the total obligations have decreased 50% from $8,462,116 to $4,231,058.