Symposium (10)
Launching an Innovative and Strategically Planned School of Public and Allied Health in a Semi-Rural Area to Promote Educational Excellence and Community Engagement
Angela Branch-Vital; Kentya C. Ford
Prairie View A&M University, USA
The School of Public and Allied Health (SPAH) at Prairie View A&M University is committed to advancing education, research, and community engagement in public and allied health sciences. As the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Texas to offer public health programs, SPAH is uniquely positioned to address health disparities and promote well-being through innovative teaching, community engagement, and research practices. Our faculty employ the latest course content, design, and technological approaches in health promotion, disease prevention, epidemiology, research methods, movement science, and biostatistics to equip students with essential skills for enhancing individual and community health. SPAH fosters cutting-edge, theory-based research among students and faculty, expanding knowledge in key public health fields locally, nationally, and internationally. Strategically located in a semi-rural county with connections to a large urban city, our students gain invaluable practicum experiences in diverse settings, preparing them to address a broad spectrum of public health challenges. Faculty support student learning through active community engagement, leadership, and service initiatives that provide direct access to underserved populations. Our goal is to train a new generation of public health professionals capable of making a positive impact locally and globally, ensuring that every community benefits from our efforts. This presentation will highlight our innovative research initiatives and the unique educational opportunities that position SPAH as a leader in public health education and practice.
Biographies
Dr. Angela Branch-Vital, 
the Executive Director and Professor at the School of Public and Allied Health at Prairie View A&M University. As the Executive Director and Professor at the School of Public and Allied Health at Prairie View A&M University, she has over 15 years of administrative experience and a decade of expertise in health-behavior interventions and measurements. Dr. Branch-Vital holds two degrees from Prairie View A&M University. Additionally, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences/Health Promotion, with concentrations in epidemiology and biostatistics. Dr. Branch-Vital’s research is deeply rooted in addressing health disparities, particularly within African American and minority communities. She has secured numerous grants to explore critical health issues such as obesity, condom use, health risks, HIV, nutrition, and healthy living. As both Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on various projects, she has collaborated with top-tier funding sources, including the National Institute of Health and the United States Department of Food and Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Recently, she received over one million dollars in grant funding from the Department of Education to develop B.S./B.A. Public Health and Allied Health programs, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing health equity. In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Branch-Vital has served as a contributing editor for several journals and have publish and presented her research in a peer-reviewed platforns These roles have allowed her to disseminate crucial findings, bridge academic insights with practical applications, and foster dialogue on issues at the intersection of health and diversity. Her early publications have addressed public health disparities within the African American community, particularly focusing on body mass index (BMI) and its implications for youth and underserved populations. Throughout her career, Dr. Branch-Vital has remained committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of historically underserved communities. Her work has laid a foundation for future research and interventions aimed at reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes for African Americans and other minority groups. As an academic leader, researcher, and advocate for health equity, Dr. Branch-Vital continues to collaborate with like-minded individuals to address pressing health issues and create a future where everyone has equal access to the benefits of a healthy life.
the Executive Director and Professor at the School of Public and Allied Health at Prairie View A&M University. As the Executive Director and Professor at the School of Public and Allied Health at Prairie View A&M University, she has over 15 years of administrative experience and a decade of expertise in health-behavior interventions and measurements. Dr. Branch-Vital holds two degrees from Prairie View A&M University. Additionally, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences/Health Promotion, with concentrations in epidemiology and biostatistics. Dr. Branch-Vital’s research is deeply rooted in addressing health disparities, particularly within African American and minority communities. She has secured numerous grants to explore critical health issues such as obesity, condom use, health risks, HIV, nutrition, and healthy living. As both Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on various projects, she has collaborated with top-tier funding sources, including the National Institute of Health and the United States Department of Food and Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Recently, she received over one million dollars in grant funding from the Department of Education to develop B.S./B.A. Public Health and Allied Health programs, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing health equity. In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Branch-Vital has served as a contributing editor for several journals and have publish and presented her research in a peer-reviewed platforns These roles have allowed her to disseminate crucial findings, bridge academic insights with practical applications, and foster dialogue on issues at the intersection of health and diversity. Her early publications have addressed public health disparities within the African American community, particularly focusing on body mass index (BMI) and its implications for youth and underserved populations. Throughout her career, Dr. Branch-Vital has remained committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of historically underserved communities. Her work has laid a foundation for future research and interventions aimed at reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes for African Americans and other minority groups. As an academic leader, researcher, and advocate for health equity, Dr. Branch-Vital continues to collaborate with like-minded individuals to address pressing health issues and create a future where everyone has equal access to the benefits of a healthy life.Dr. Kentya C. Ford 
earned a Dr. P.H. in Health Education and Health Promotion at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health; and M.S and B.S Degrees from Southern University A& M University. Following her doctoral program, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science. Presently, Dr. Ford is an Assistant Professor at Prairie View A& M University, School of Public Health, where she also serves as Public Health Program Coordinator. Dr. Ford also holds research-related clinical practitioner and collaborative research dissemination roles University of Texas-Austin College of Pharmacy and the Latino Learning Center, LLC, Houston. As a public health promotion professional, Dr. Ford’s overarching program of research focuses on developing culturally appropriate interventions to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. To this end, Dr. Ford has an extensive background in developing and implementing tobacco prevention and cessation programs among at-risk youth, young adults, and healthcare providers in underserved populations. Her research has extended into healthy eating and physical activity, religion/spirituality, and overall health/well-being among adolescents/young adults; and community health worker roles in increasing health promoting behaviors in underserved communities. Dr. Ford has published several peer-reviewed papers and has co-authored three book chapters, both focusing on smoking prevention and cessation, and is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants recipient and a two-time recipient of the NIH's Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program. Dr. Ford has a wealth of teaching, training and service experiences in health education, promotion, health disparities, community health and program evaluation. She has mentored many doctoral and masters’ trainees who have completed studies in public health. These experiences, along with participation in service activities, helps inform community-based engagement and research among minority populations.
earned a Dr. P.H. in Health Education and Health Promotion at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health; and M.S and B.S Degrees from Southern University A& M University. Following her doctoral program, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science. Presently, Dr. Ford is an Assistant Professor at Prairie View A& M University, School of Public Health, where she also serves as Public Health Program Coordinator. Dr. Ford also holds research-related clinical practitioner and collaborative research dissemination roles University of Texas-Austin College of Pharmacy and the Latino Learning Center, LLC, Houston. As a public health promotion professional, Dr. Ford’s overarching program of research focuses on developing culturally appropriate interventions to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. To this end, Dr. Ford has an extensive background in developing and implementing tobacco prevention and cessation programs among at-risk youth, young adults, and healthcare providers in underserved populations. Her research has extended into healthy eating and physical activity, religion/spirituality, and overall health/well-being among adolescents/young adults; and community health worker roles in increasing health promoting behaviors in underserved communities. Dr. Ford has published several peer-reviewed papers and has co-authored three book chapters, both focusing on smoking prevention and cessation, and is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants recipient and a two-time recipient of the NIH's Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program. Dr. Ford has a wealth of teaching, training and service experiences in health education, promotion, health disparities, community health and program evaluation. She has mentored many doctoral and masters’ trainees who have completed studies in public health. These experiences, along with participation in service activities, helps inform community-based engagement and research among minority populations.