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U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I C H I G A N — S C H O O L O F P U B L I C H E A L T H C R E C H C E N T E R F O R R E S E A R C H O N E T H N I C I T Y, C U L T U R E, A N D H E A L T H Fall/Winter eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in public health 2008 Newsletter Paul B. Cornely Postdoctoral Program in Ethnicity, SPECIAL ISSUE Culture, and Health Celebrates 20 Years! n the early 1980s, enrollment of racial and ethnic “minority” students at the University of Michigan was moving in the wrong direction -- down. Even more upsetting was Ithe fact that the numbers for faculty of color were moving in the same direction; far too many were leaving the University. In response, campus organizations such as the Black Action Movement II (BAM II) and the United Coalition Against Racism (UCAR) were putting pressure on the University administration to address The fi rst three Paul B. Cornely the situation. As a result, Provost and Postdoctoral Scholars with the Vice President, James J. Duderstadt, program’s founders organized a series of meetings in order to create what came to be known as WWHEREHERE AREARE THEYTHEY the Michigan Mandate. The Michigan NNOW?OW? Mandate was an organizational/ institutional change strategy that would, according to Dr. Duderstadt, “embrace diversity as the cornerstone “The Center for of excellence” (Jane R. Elgass, The Research on University Record, January 25, 1999). Ethnicity, Culture, Among the mandate’s goals was and Health (CRECH) the creation of a student body and a professoriate that refl ected the racial has been supporting and ethnic diversity of the broader and training the U.S. society. To accomplish this, the “next generation” Michigan Mandate focused on faculty recruitment and development, student of scholars for ten recruitment and achievement, and years now – since its (l-r) Scholars Verna Keith, Dawn Smith, (back row) improving the University environment Marshall Becker, Thomas LaVeist, and inception in 1998.” for diversity. In short, the purpose Harold Neighbors of the mandate was to create a —Neighbors community that supported the aspirations and achievements of all individuals, regardless of race, national origin, or gender. One component of the mandate’s strategy involved committing fi nancial resources to support innovative campus programs. It is within this context that the Paul B. Cornely Postdoctoral Program was created. In effect, the Cornely Postdoctoral Program was see MANDATE, Page 2 SPH Launches Diversity Program MANDATE, from page 1 support he received from the colleagues he approached within the school of public health. As a result, the idea for this new postdoctoral program began to take shape. This idea was thoroughly vetted by many faculty members -- UMSPH faculty members who helped Drs. Neighbors and Becker launch the program were Irene Butter, Linda Chatters, Toby Citrin, Arline Geronimus, Jill Joseph, Neal Krause, Jersey Liang, Richard Lichtenstein, and Ken Warner -- who saw the program as a forward- looking opportunity to change, over one of the fi rst (but certainly not the time, the racial and ethnic composition Cornely Program on the wider public last) programmatic responses by the of the public health academic health community is obvious. We University of Michigan School of Public workforce by providing mentored are sure that you will be impressed Health to the Michigan Mandate’s training for postdoctoral scholars with the key leadership positions into call for action. In 1987, Harold W. from underrepresented groups. On which many of the former scholars Neighbors, who had joined the UMSPH February 3, 1988, with funding from have moved over the years. Their as an Assistant Professor in 1985, the UM Offi ce of Minority Affairs under outstanding scientifi c accomplishments approached then UMSPH Senior the direction of Dr. Charles Moody, are also quite notable. By every Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Vice Provost for Minority Affairs, funds measure, the Cornely Program has Marshall Becker, with an idea that were committed to establish the Paul been a remarkable success. Also in would address the Mandate’s faculty B. Cornely Postdoctoral Program. this issue we introduce the newest development objective. Neighbors The new postdoctoral program was Cornely Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. proposed, and Becker agreed, that launched immediately in March 1988 Kristopher Chrishon (page 14). We one way the UMSPH should address and by September of that year, the mention this only to underscore the the issue of faculty diversifi cation fi rst class of Cornely scholars was in fact that the UMSPH Dean’s Offi ce was to create a new postdoctoral residence (see photograph of Drs. remains very supportive of the overall research program focused on Neighbors and Becker along with Drs. goals and ideals represented by the identifying and recruiting early career Keith, LaVeist, and Smith on page one). Cornely Postdoctoral Fellowship. In research scientists from traditionally Dr. Moody and the Offi ce of Minority fact, the Cornely Program is now the underrepresented racial and ethnic Affairs continued to support the Cornely longest running postdoctoral program of groups. The central objective was quite program through 1995, at which time this kind in any school of public health. simple; the UMSPH had a responsibility the School of Public Health, under the CRECH takes this opportunity to thank to recruit and train early career leadership of Dean June Osborn as well Dr. Moody, Dr. Osborn, Dr. James and academicians from groups of color in as the support and advocacy of Senior all of the UMSPH faculty who helped order to increase the likelihood that Associate Dean Sherman James, make the program so successful. more scholars of color would become assumed full fi nancial support for all Finally, CRECH especially wants to faculty within public health and related aspects of the program. thank the UMSPH Dean’s Offi ce for fi elds.1 Neighbors noted at the time that their continued support of the Cornely he was very pleased with the universal In this issue of the CRECH Newsletter, we highlight the accomplishments Postdoctoral Program. 1 Neighbors and Becker would also of many of the former Cornely partner later to recruit successfully such noted UM faculty as Sherman James. Dr. Postdoctoral Scholars. In reviewing James is the Founding Director of the the accomplishments of the featured Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, scholars, the positive impact of the and Health. 2 The Inspiration Behind The Cornely Program r. Cornely received his A.B. vision. His studies of the health Practice of the Howard University in 1928, his M.D. in 1931, status of the Negro in our nation’s College of Medicine. Dand his Dr.P.H. in 1934, all capital demonstrated the need for from the University of Michigan. His a new, vigorous approach to our Dr. Cornely’s contributions Department of Specialization was previously unrecognized problems. in the fi eld of health services Hygiene and Public Health. Dr. Belying personal modesty, he was administration have been signifi cant. Cornely’s dissertation title was “A forthright in affi rming the right of the He was director of the Howard disinherited to an optimal physical University Hospital for a period well-being. of eleven years and president of the Community Group Health His major professional activities Foundation, which administered were in medical education, health the Offi ce of Economic Opportunity, services administration, and he serving a population of 50,000 was a consultant to Federal and people. He pioneered the use of voluntary organizations, both neighborhood health workers as domestic and international. He also early as 1958-60. He founded researched the health problems the District of Columbia Public of the disadvantaged. Dr. Cornely Health Association and was its fi rst Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library retired in 1973 as Professor President from 1962-64. Dr. Cornely Emeritus in the Department of was president of the American Community Health and Family Public Health Association in 1970. He conducted research studies in tuberculosis, venereal diseases, Survey of Postgraduate Medical and scarlet fever, utilization of Education in the United States and physicians’ extenders and their an Inquiry into the Educational His studies effect on the cost and quality of Needs of the General Practitioner.” of the health health care, and the effects of social On August 4, 1968 the University and cultural factors on health and of Michigan Board of Regents status of the health care utilization. He published conferred on this alumnus and over 100 scientifi c and popular medical statesman the honorary Negro in our articles. Dr. Cornely passed away degree of Doctor of Science. nation’s capital on February 9, 2002. Dr. Cornely began his career in a demonstrated manner admired by academicians, The staff at the University of Michigan compiling an enviable record the need for a Bentley Historical Library assisted with this article. For more information on Dr. in three different schools of the new, vigorous Cornely’s UM honorary Doctor of Science University. As a specialist in degree, visit the University of Michigan preventive medicine, he attained approach to Board of Regents Proceedings, dated a commanding professional August 4, 1968 at authority culminating in his our previously http://quod.lib.umich.edu/u/umregproc/. nomination to the presidency of the prestigious American Public Health unrecognized Association. As a responsible problems. public-health physician, anxious that health care be made more widely effi cacious, he subsumed his technical insight into a social 3 The First Three Cornely Scholars he Paul B.

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