The University of the District of Columbia and Howard University have partnered to train a healthcare workforce for the modern day, WTOP News reported.
Dr. Mary K. Awuonda
The joint program, PHIT4DC, will allow those interested – from high schoolers to working healthcare professionals – to enroll in public health informatics and technology courses.
“Health care now is in the community,” said Dr. Mary Awuonda, director of Howard’s Telepharmacy Center. “The lack of direct engagement is what led to a lot of the poor outcomes Wards 7 and 8 saw over the pandemic. Frontline workers naturally know that a connection is important and know how to inform them.”
PHIT4DC aims to get students from the city's Wards 7 and 8, who will focus training on patients and residents in that area. They will train healthcare providers to understand patients’ lived experiences and help people navigate healthcare information systems, Awuonda said.
