HRSA Grant-Funded Education

The University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions is the recipient of $1.3 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to be used in the education and training of the nation's future public health workforce.

Western New York suffers from a severe shortage of public health workers, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some parts of the region have the worst health outcomes in the state. The education and training through the Public Health PRACTICE (Prepare, Respond and Collaborate to Address Inequities, COVID and other Emergencies) grant aims to address both of these issues by ensuring that area health departments and community-based organizations have skilled staff to reduce health disparities and lead COVID-19 response. 

The program will fund graduate tuition for Master of Public Health (all concentrations) and Advanced Public Health Certificate program students from underrepresented backgrounds. The program is rooted in several key objectives, including educating the public health workforce to address public health inequities and health disparities, and incorporate principles of social determinants of health into practice. Another objective involves training the public health workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to recovery activities related to COVID-19, as well as other public health emergencies, by providing public health field experience opportunities.

I come from an African American or Black, Hispanic, Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander background.

I meet criteria for these federal guidelines for a low income household.

Neither of my parents or caregivers graduated with a 4-year college degree.

I come from an environment that has inhibited me from obtaining knowledge, skills and abilities needed to enroll in and graduate from a public health program.

I will contribute diversity to the program in a way that aligns with the School's diversity statement.

The HRSA training grant will support tuition for part-time and full-time MPH and Advanced Public Health Certificate students. 

If you are not a NYS resident, the HRSA training grant will cover tuition and fees at the in-state rate. Out-of-state students are responsible for covering the difference between in-state tuition/fees covered by the grant, and out-of-state tuition/fees not covered by the grant.

Out-of-state students can reduce the tuition and fees they must cover by studying in a fully online MPH Individualized program or a fully online MPH Health Services program.

• To receive the online tuition/fee rate, you must be formally enrolled in an online MPH program. If you are not in an online MPH, any courses you take, whether seated or online, are charged at the seated program tuition/fee rate.
  
• Trainees in an online MPH must still complete the extended field training requirement from their location.

This information is for general guidance. If you are accepted for HRSA funding, your funding letter will provide you with specific information about which program and tuition/fee rates HRSA funding will cover, and you will be responsible for any balance above that amount.

Yes! HRSA trainees will still follow our satisfactory grade policy. Continuation in the MPH program or Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate is contingent on students obtaining a grade of B or higher in courses. 

You can apply online to the MPH program via our SOPHAS application portal or to the Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate through the UB application system.

Once your application is completed, please submit this supplemental HRSA funding request and email SPHHP_HRSAtraining@buffalo.edu to ensure all your materials have been submitted and are under review.