Cal State San Bernardino was awarded a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) to develop its proposed program, Creating Inclusive Pathways to Allied Health Professions (CIPAHP). The CIPAHP program is a blueprint for increasing enrollment of Hispanic and underrepresented students in postbaccalaureate programs by expanding graduate degree opportunities in allied healthcare professions.

Additionally, allied health graduate students will be encouraged to earn a Certificate in Healthcare Spanish to meet the region’s needs for bilingual healthcare providers. Once enrolled, the CIPAHP program aims to support students’ academic and personal success by creating a comprehensive support system and a positive, inclusive climate that meets students’ social, emotional and academic needs. In addition, it is expected to increase retention while reducing the time it takes to obtain a degree.

While serving CSUSB students, CIPAHP will also have a lasting impact in the Inland Empire. With only 41 primary health care providers per 100,000 residents, the Inland Empire has a severe shortage. CIPAHP will create a pathway to careers as dietitians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and speech language pathologists, reducing health disparities in the region.

It will also fill a critical gap in the health care sectors. Nurse practitioner and physician assistant jobs are expected to grow 62% and 39%, respectively, through 2030, and speech language pathologist, as well as dietitian and nutritionist positions, are estimated to grow 29% and 19%, respectively.

Caroline Vickers, dean of Graduate Studies and the project co-director, stated that they chose to focus on allied health professions due to the critical need in the community.

“The CIPAHP program will help to address shortages in the health care professions while providing underserved students in the Inland Empire with a pathway to meaningful careers in high-demand professions,” said Vickers.

CSUSB has ambitious plans for creating four new allied health graduate degrees. The grant funding will support the development of the new M.A. in Speech Language Pathology, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Public Health programs, which are in the planning stages, as well as the M.S. in Physician Assistant program, scheduled to commence in fall 2025.

“CSUSB will offer these in-demand allied health degrees, and at lower costs than the region’s private universities, and courses will be primarily online and hybrid formats, providing more flexibility for working students,” said Cynthia Crawford, professor of psychology and project co-director.

But new degree offerings are only part of the picture. The CIPAHP program includes plans to develop robust academic support systems. These include creating proactive advising and mentoring programs, offering financial support through expanded Graduate Equity Fellowships, and building an inclusive community of allied health graduate students and professionals. While some of the programs will offer courses online, community partnerships will offer students hands-on clinical experiences in real-world health care settings and build relationships between CSUSB students and community partners.

The PPOHA by the U.S. Department of Education is a highly competitive grant created to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students and is primarily awarded to Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Kelly Campbell, vice provost for Academic Programs, voiced her support for the CIPAHP program.

“This funding award is a testament to the solidity of the CIPAHP proposal and CSUSB’s standing as a university, one that is recognized time and again for the quality of education it provides,” said Campbell. “The funding we received to launch the new allied health programs will make a long-lasting impact on our student body and our community.”

For more information on the CIPAHP program, contact Vickers at cvickers@csusb.edu