Centers of Excellence (COE)

Background
The Centers of Excellence (COE) program was established to institutionalize a commitment to under-represented minority (URM) students and faculty. The program aims to increase racial and ethnic diversity among health professions and address minority health issues.
COE grantees serve as innovative resources and education centers to recruit, train, and retain URM students and faculty at health professions schools. Programs improve information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence as they relate to minority health issues and social determinants of health.
COE grantees also focus on facilitating faculty and student research on health issues particularly affecting URM groups.

Grant Details
The COE Program provides grants to health professions schools, and other public and private nonprofit health or educational entities, to recruit, train and retain URM students and faculty. The program aims to develop a competitive URM applicant pool through linkages with institutions of higher education, local school districts, and other community-based entities.
It also seeks to establish, strengthen or expand structured programs to enhance URM student academic performance; improve the capacity of the school for recruitment, training and retention of URM faculty; improve information resources, clinical education, curricula and cultural competence related to minority health issues; facilitate faculty and student research on health disparities affecting URM groups; train URM students in providing health care services in community-based settings; provide stipends to URM students participating in structured programs.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include accredited allopathic schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and graduate programs in behavioral or mental health that meet the requirements of Section 736(c) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.
However, the four designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) listed in Section 736 are not eligible for this funding opportunity.
The program also has specific eligibility requirements for designation as a Hispanic COE or Native American COE.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for the grant is from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027 (5 years).

Grant Value
$10,300,000 is available annually to fund up to 15 recipients.
The ceiling amount for individual grants is up to $686,000 per year.