Juliann Binienda, Ph.D., director of the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Division of Population Health Sciences, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration to offer tuition-based scholarships for the Master’s of Public Health program to current public health workforce employees and health professional students, including those training in medicine and nursing.

The goal of the program, funded by the three-year grant, is to increase the capacity in public health systems to meet core health functions and the Ten Essential Public Health Services.

“We are excited to expand our M.P.H. program by offering these scholarship awards to students who would otherwise be unable to pursue graduate training because of cost,” said Dr. Binienda, professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences. “We are also supporting the mission of the university by strengthening and diversifying our community partnerships, working together to reduce health disparities in the metropolitan Detroit community.”

The grant will allow tuition funding annually for as many as 10 students pursuing M.P.H. degrees. The scholarships will prioritize those who are employed in the public health sector, underrepresented minorities, those from disadvantaged backgrounds and WSU undergraduate and medical students.

The funding will allow the M.P.H. program to expand offerings in course and field experience in emergency preparedness.

Under the grant, Dr. Binienda will work with two division members as co-investigators: Rachel Mahas, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, and M.P.H. Program director; and Michael McLeod, J.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences.