Cardiovascular Epidemiology Training Program Evaluation: The Jackson Heart Study

Background: The focus of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC) Daniel Hale Williams Program at Jackson State University (JSU) is to recruit and train graduate scholars to develop expertise in cardiovascular epidemiology. The GTEC investigators believe that training programs, like JSU JHS GTEC, Daniel Hale Williams Scholar Program, can be instrumental in positioning prospective public health scholars to learn about the identification and treatment of the major risk factors. This study aimed to examine selected evaluation processes to determine the effectiveness of JSU JHS GTEC Daniel Hale Williams Scholar Program. Methods: This report provides a summary of activities that were conducted as part of the evaluation of the GTEC program. SWOT analyses and key informant interviews were conducted with program staff, Daniel Hale Williams scholars, and learning community (LC) advisors. Results: The evaluation process and the identified outcomes improved the JSU JHS GTEC leadership’s knowledge and understanding of the program outcomes and enabled the leadership team to make judgements about the overall program. The evaluation results stimulated adjustments that shaped the complexion of the subsequent future program activities, future actions, and future decisions, incorporating the lessons learned as a result of the evaluation undertaking. Conclusions: While the evaluation helped identify the positive, constructive aspects of the JSU JHS GTEC program activities, it also revealed the cracks and loopholes that needed to be closed and eliminated in order to enhance the scholars’ engagement, and, ultimately, scholastic benefits.