Health Policy Research Scholars is a national leadership program for doctoral students in any academic discipline who are starting their second year of study and want to apply their research to help build healthier and more equitable communities.
But don’t get hung up on our name, because we’re not just looking for students who do health policy research. We’re looking for doctoral students whose research has the potential to impact health and well-being: The economics student examining how the marketplace drives decisions that create barriers to good health. The engineering student studying systems that better support wellness. The agriculture student who pursues research while keeping an eye on how it impacts long-term health. The goal of the program is to train doctoral students to use their discipline-based research training to advance health equity to build a Culture of Health, one that enables everyone to live longer, healthier lives.
We need far greater diversity in future generations of researchers and policymakers. With more voices in the conversation, policies and solutions can be more inclusive and relevant to a broader range of communities. That’s why we intentionally designed Health Policy Research Scholars for students from underrepresented populations and/or historically marginalized backgrounds—students whose race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, or other factors allow them to bring unique and diverse perspectives to their research.
HPRS scholars gain access to the tools, insights, and diversity of mentors needed to accelerate and distinguish their research. And because we know that pursuing a graduate degree is intense and time-consuming in and of itself, we provide annual award funding to give the scholar added research funds, or simply greater financial stability.
Alumni from this program carry the unique distinction of being a graduate of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation leadership program and become a part of a tightly knit network of visionary change agents across sectors and disciplines.
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Health Policy Research Scholars
TAKING BOLD STEPS TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO
Meet our current scholars who are collaborating to advance a Culture of Health. These scholars are leading innovative, discipline-spanning work across the countryand taking bold steps to change the status quo and achieve greater equity in their home communities.
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Andrew Arriaga
ANDREW S. ARRIAGA
PHD STUDENT, COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
The University of Texas at Austin
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- LGBTQ+ wellness
- Race and ethnicity
- Structural inequalities
- Health equity
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Jason Ashe
JASON ASHE
PHD STUDENT, HUMAN SERVICES PSYCHOLOGY
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Faith/Religion
- Public, Population, and Community Health
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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Anton L.V. Avanceña
ANTON L.V. AVANCEÑA
PHD STUDENT, HEALTH SERVICES ORGANIZATION AND POLICY
University of Michigan
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Health Care Value
- Health Care Quality
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Asia Sade Ivey
ASIA SADE IVEY
PHD STUDENT, SOCIOLOGY
University of California, Davis
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Health Care Access
- Violence and Trauma
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Destiny M.B. Printz Pereira
DESTINY M.B. PRINTZ PEREIRA
PHD STUDENT, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
University of Connecticut
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Violence and Trauma
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Children and Families

Health Policy Research Scholars is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Leadership Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Health Policy Research Scholars is just one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership programs offering high-level training and funding for people interested in applying their expertise—no matter what their discipline—to help make our country healthier and more equitable.
CULTURE OF HEALTH LEADERS
Collaborate. Innovate. Transform Communities.
Individuals working in every field and profession receive $20,000 per year to advance a Culture of Health—one that enables everyone in America to live longer, healthier lives.
www.cultureofhealth-leaders.orgINTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH LEADERS
Collaborating to Advance Community Change.
Teams of three—two researchers and one community partner—come together to use the power of applied research to strengthen communities, with annual support of $25,000 per person and a one-time research project grant of up to $125,000 for the team.
www.interdisciplinaryresearch-leaders.org