Bold New Partnership for Emerging Healthcare Leaders

By Office of the President | Feb 25, 2025

Congratulations to the Downstate TRANSPORT II team, led by W. Marcus Lambert, Ph.D., MS, Associate Vice President for Research Strategy and Operations at Downstate, Moro O. Salifu, M.D., MBA, MPH, MACP, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and Carla Boutin-Foster, M.D., MSc, Associate Dean, Office of Diversity Education and Research, who, along with Advancing Health Equity (AHE) founder, Uché Blackstock, M.D., and her team, announce an exciting new partnership to advance health equity research and expand opportunities for emerging healthcare leaders.

TRANSPORT II is a research training program designed to equip diverse health science students and future providers with the skills to address health disparities in Brooklyn’s most underserved communities. As a cornerstone initiative at Downstate, TRANSPORT II aims to train students and faculty from underrepresented backgrounds in cutting-edge health equity research, community engagement, and policy development. Strengthening the pipeline of biomedical researchers from underrepresented groups remains a priority, ensuring that healthcare professionals are well-prepared to drive meaningful change.

Advancing Health Equity partners with healthcare organizations to dismantle racism in healthcare and eliminate racial health disparities. With expertise in program evaluation and health equity strategy, AHE will assess the program’s impact, identify optimization opportunities, and provide long-term sustainability recommendations. By leveraging these strengths, AHE aims to ensure that the program’s benefits extend beyond the grant’s duration, equipping communities with vital resources and reinforcing sustainable health equity frameworks.

The need for such programs is clear. The World Health Organization projects a global shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030, with the most severe deficits in low- and lower-middle-income countries. In the U.S., there are still significant gaps in healthcare access. Cities have about 93 primary care doctors for every 100,000 people, while rural areas have only 55. Closing this gap is key to making healthcare fair for everyone.

Research shows that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare education lead to better patient care and more effective treatment. Investing in research, education, and training helps ensure that everyone, no matter their background, gets quality healthcare.

This partnership strengthens Downstate’s commitment to health equity and training diverse professionals. AHE adds expert support, helping future healthcare leaders break down barriers to care. Together, we will drive real progress and create lasting solutions to improve health outcomes for historically marginalized communities in Brooklyn and beyond.

Tags: TRANSPORT, Health Equity