Scholar Academy for Latinxs United for Diversity (SALUD) (2024-2025)
The Scholar Academy for Latinxs United for Diversity (SALUD) program seeks to address systemic disparities in health education and college access for Latinx students. This Bass Connections team evaluated the effectiveness of SALUD, which provides a semester-long or weekend curriculum for high school and undergraduate students focused on health equity, social determinants of health and professional development. Through mixed-methods research, the team aimed to assess the program’s acceptability, feasibility and long-term impact, particularly in terms of student leadership, college aspirations and retention of health-related knowledge.
Drawing on data from four program years, the team’s analysis found significant short-term gains in knowledge of mental health and substance abuse, as well as improved connection to Latinx mentors. Key predictors of college readiness included students’ ability to identify community resources and communicate effectively, both focal points of the curriculum. However, the team noted a decline in knowledge retention over time in certain areas, such as nutrition, highlighting opportunities for improvement. The semester-long format in 2019 showed stronger outcomes compared to the condensed weekend model adopted in 2024, emphasizing the value of sustained mentorship and continuity.
Multidisciplinary collaboration was central to the project’s success. Team members from global health, psychology and public policy worked alongside Latinx-identifying students and Durham-based community partners to ensure cultural relevance. Despite funding and time constraints, the team produced survey reports and infographics to support local educators and advocates. Their findings reinforce SALUD’s role as a replicable model for empowering underrepresented students to pursue health and STEM careers through culturally grounded, community-centered education.
Timing
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Team Outputs
Survey reports on evaluating program impact
Infographic summarizing key findings of survey report
See earlier related team, Expanding Latinx Representation in Health and STEM Careers: Evaluation of SALUD (2020-2021).
Image: From SALUD website