UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster last week signed a memorandum of understanding with Dr. Raymond S. Greenberg, President of the Medical University of South Carolina, to spur collaborations between the two institutions. Present at the meeting and an active supporter of this collaboration is Delegate to Congress Dr. Donna M. Christiansen. UVI and MUSC have agreed to collaborate to promote teaching, research and public service in biomedical sciences, including programs in marine health research and public health.

"This MOU will provide a framework in which educational experiences and research for students and faculty can occur between the two institutions," Dr. Ragster said. "We are very excited that there appears to be great potential for initiatives in the marine sciences, bioinfomatics, nursing and our Caribbean Exploratory Research Center."

The first joint undertaking between the two universities will occur with a health disparities conference slated for early December 2008 on St. Croix. A health disparity is the difference in the occurrence, severity, and the burden of diseases, and differences in life expectancy that exist between ethnic minority population groups compared to other groups.

In 2005 the Medical University of South Carolina established its Center for Health Disparities Research, a research, training, and outreach program focused on eliminating racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender disparities in health.

In 2007 the National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) awarded a five-year grant to UVI to establish the Caribbean Exploratory National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center.

Collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina fulfills a portion of UVI's strategic plan,Vision 2012. Vision 2012 encourages collaborations that allow the University of the Virgin Islands to improve and expand academic opportunities and experiences for its students. The Medical University of South Carolina was founded in Charleston in 1824. It is the oldest medical school in the South.

For more information on health disparities and UVI's Caribbean Exploratory Research Center contact Dr. Gloria Callwood, director of the Center, at 693-1291.