Team Members
Contact Information
Summer Research Enhancement Project (SREP)
The vision of SREP at Diné College is to prepare Native American students for careers in public health and health research and to strengthen research capabilities of Tribal Colleges and Universities.
The program is available to undergraduate college students who have completed their freshman year, and provides a culturally supportive atmosphere for developing a strong, multicultural approach in public health and health research work. The 10-week program will help students to develop skills and interests in public health and health research and participate first hand in community based, ongoing projects at Diné College, the Navajo Nation or other Native American communities.
2017 SREP Cohort and Faculty 
2016 SREP Cohort and Faculty 
SREP 2015 Cohort and Faculty 
SREP 2015 Cohort and Faculty 
SREP Team
Project aims
- Aim 1: identify current knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors among American Indians related to increased fitness and demonstrated resilience through lifestyle changes
- Aim 2: Assess patient-provider communication about overweight and obesity
- Aim 3: Determine evidence-based, culturally appropriate strategies which provide primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention against health risks of overweight and obesity
- Aim 4: Make policy and procedural recommendations to inform CAIR and community stakeholders
Additional project goals
- Develop methods, analysis, and dissemination strategies from medical anthropology and public health
- Capacity building through training Community Researchers in ethnographic research methods
- Develop evidence-based, culturally appropriate strategies to support and promote healthy lifestyles
- Make policy and procedural recommendations
Student interns Casandra Sampson (L) and Cynthia Manygoats (R) with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health Nutrition Program in Tuba City AZ
Relevance
- Informed policy recommendations hold the potential to improve the efficiency of the health care system
- Involving community members and local institutions improves the chances for lasting impactful change
- Developing, refining, and disseminating tools for community engagement informs a national audience on research to promote resilience and improving health equity
Summer Research Enhancement Program
Overview & Schedule
Program Dates: May 30, 2017 – August 4, 2017
Stage I: Three Weeks
May 30 through June 16
Intensive training at Diné College-Tsaile Campus (Arizona), where students develop skills in disease prevention and health promotion research techniques. This course includes the topics of:
- Public Health
- Ethics and Research Methods
- Epidemiology
- Statistics
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Nutrition and Nutritional Assessment
- Cancer and Disease Processes and Prevention Approaches
- Indigenous Health and Resilience
Stage II: Six Weeks
June 19 through July 28
The student interns are placed in or near their home communities at health care facilities or educational institutions where they will participate in a variety of on-going public health and health research or related projects.
Stage III: One Week
July 31 through August 4
At the conclusion of the program, the students and staff will work on the analysis of data and presentations of their internship experiences in public health and health research.
While participating in the SREP, the student researcher will receive:
- A $3,600.00 Stipend (distributed throughout the program)
During the 3-week training session at Diné College-Tsaile Campus, the student will receive the following
- Room and Board
- Books and Materials
- 7 transferable credit hours (4 classroom credits and 3 practicum credits)
- All college fees and materials will be covered
Previous Internship Placement Sites
- Diné College – Shiprock, NM
- Northern Navajo Medical Center – Shiprock, NM
- Gallup Indian Medical Center – Gallup, NM
- Kayenta Health Center – Kayenta, AZ
- Tsaile Health Center – Tsaile, AZ
- Fort Defiance Health Center – Fort Defiance, AZ
- Connelly House, San Juan Regional Medical Center – Farmington, NM
- Native American Diabetes Program – Albuquerque, NM
- Many Farms Wellness Center – Many Farms, NM
- Zuni Ramah IHS Service Unit – Zuni, NM
- Navajo Division of Health – Window Rock, AZ
- CHR Program – Gallup, NM
- Hopi Special Diabetes/Wellness Center – Second Mesa, AZ
- Chinle Wellness Center – Chinle, AZ
- Diabetes Prevention Program/Look Ahead – Shiprock, NM
- Navajo Special Diabetes Program – Fort Defiance, AZ
- Navajo Nation Breast & Cervical Cancer Program – Tuba City, AZ
Diné College Recognition:
Contact: