Educational Pathways to Health Equity: The Contribution of HBCU-led Health and Physical Teacher Education Program

Abstract

This critical synthesis examines Health/Physical Education Teacher Education (H/PETE) programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in urban contexts and their contributions to health equity and community engagement. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health framework, the article critically analyzes how structural factors, including educational access, economic stability, community trust, and institutional support, shape health outcomes in underrepresented communities. Integrating scholarship across education, health, and equity, the review highlights the capacity of HBCU-based H/PETE programs to address health disparities and identifies funding, institutional, and policy conditions necessary to strengthen community-engaged health equity efforts.

Keywords

HBCUs health equity community engagement cultural competence health and physical education teacher education

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