Fayetteville State University has been awarded a $60,000 grant to support an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at integrating religious pluralism into health professions education. The Faith Forward: Religious Pluralism, Health Equity initiative will equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address health disparities while considering diverse faith perspectives.

Led by an esteemed team of FSU faculty—Paul Boaheng, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, Melissa Haithcox-Dennis, Ph.D., associate professor of public health, and Stephanie Hodges, Ph.D., professor of nursing—the project will develop an Intro to Faith and Health course, embed faith and health equity modules into courses and launch community-centered programs. These efforts align with FSU’s commitment to academic excellence, student engagement and community impact.

“This grant provides an opportunity to increase religious literacy and understand its role in advancing health equity by enhancing student learning in and out of the classroom,” said Dr. Haithcox-Dennis in a press release. “By fostering religious pluralism in the context of public health and healthcare, we can prepare our graduates to work with and care for diverse communities more effectively.”

The initiative will launch a minor in faith and health, facilitate a Faith and Health Campus Learning Series, host community health fairs and offer international service-learning experiences to Canada and the Dominican Republic. These programs will engage both students and the broader community, fostering dialogue on religious pluralism and health equity.