AHA to expand educational funding, research stipends for diverse students
With financial support from Quest Diagnostics, the AHA announced expansion of its Historically Black Colleges and Universities scholars program and the launch of its Hispanic Serving Institutions scholars program.
According to an AHA press release, the funding will support more than 100 diverse students at nearly 30 historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions over the next 2 years; increase the cash award for scholars in the existing Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholars cohort from $2,500 to $7,000; and fund 10 additional research stipends at five more historically Black colleges and universities.

According to the release, the new Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholars Program will provide career mentorship, leadership development and research stipends to promising Hispanic students in STEM fields attending Hispanic-serving institutions in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas and Puerto Rico.
“We are deeply committed to increasing diversity among health care professionals through our Scholars programs,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, said in the release. “This platform represents community-led solutions to address health disparities.”
In addition, the AHA is also working with Quest Diagnostics to develop an initiative to provide evidence-based high BP resources and COVID-19 Rapid Response Funds to 10 Federally Qualified Health Centers in under-resourced communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.