Stephanie Keeney Parks
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSBy highlighting the health care disparities faced by African American families that have children with autism, Stephanie looks to…
Brie McLemore
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSIn recent years, there has been an increased dialogue concerning the impact of policing on communities of color. However,…
Kathleen McCarty
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSCollege students with disabilities are not being afforded the same access to physical activity and sporting opportunities as their…
M. Nicole Kunkel
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSNicole’s current research involves testing how chemical exposures during pregnancy may change brain and behavior, and how that impacts…
Sireen Irsheid
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSSocial structures entrenched in racism and social inequality systematically fail students of color. Sireen is primarily interested in examining…
Laura Gloria Gálvez
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSLaura is conducting research along with undocumented Indigenous Oaxacan communities in California. Using health narratives, Laura studies and highlights…
Angela Adler
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSTens of millions of Americans suffer from one or more illnesses of uncertain cause, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel,…
Alane Celeste-Villalvir
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSPublic health programs, policies, and research have been historically proscriptive, excluding marginalized communities and often denying them the agency…
Shanaé Burch
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSShanaé’s research in health behavior will explore the effects of arts participation and cultural engagement on health outcomes. In…
Yaminette Diaz-Linhart
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSYaminette believes that in order to move toward health equity, organizations will need to include frontline workers as active…
Deanna Barath
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSAs part of the program, Deanna will work on research to improve health equity for vulnerable populations. She is…
Hannah Cory
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSExperiencing stigma and discrimination has significant impacts on our long-term health. To unravel how these experiences impact health, understanding…
Arjee Javellana Restar
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSArjee’s research engagements in public health concentrate on promoting structural and behavior-based interventions to improve the health of communities…
Kellan Baker
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSKellan believes that health equity is a core social justice issue. His research interests focus on how he and…
Annie M. Francis
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSAnnie’s research focuses on preserving cultural connections for American Indian children placed in out-of-home care. Her work includes evaluating…
Christopher Chiu
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSAfter obtaining his undergraduate degree, Chris decided to dedicate his research career to studying intimate partner violence (IPV). Delving…
Jessica Cerdeña
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSJessica applies a biocultural lens to health disparities, studying the epigenetic underpinnings of intergenerational trauma among Latin American migrants…
Blanche Wright
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSEvidence-based treatments (EBTs) designed to improve youth mental health problems have been predominantly validated with middle-class, white families in…
Arrianna Planey
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSArrianna is a health geographer whose dissertation examines dimensions of health care access in the United States with an…
Gerson Galdamez
By Nicole Racovites onFOCUSSince junior high, Gerson has volunteered as a musician in several long-term care facilities, and developed strong friendships with…
The Program at a Glance
Who is Health Policy Research Scholars for?
Doctoral students from a variety of disciplines—such as urban planning, political science, economics, anthropology, education, social work, geography, and sociology—who are committed to using policy change to advance population health and health equity.
Applicants must be:
- Full-time doctoral students who are starting the second year of their programs in fall 2023 and do not expect to graduate before spring/summer 2026.
- From historically marginalized backgrounds and/or populations underrepresented in specific doctoral disciplines.
- Pursuing a research-focused discipline that can advance a Culture of Health.
- Interested in health policy and interdisciplinary approaches.
What do scholars receive?
- Annual award funding of up to $30,000 for up to four years or until they complete their doctoral program (whichever is sooner).
- Mentoring and training in health policy and leadership.
- Professional ties to public health and policy leaders and innovators from diverse fields.
- Opportunity to compete for an additional dissertationgrant of up to $10,000.
- Membership in a network of scholars and alumni for research and advocacy collaborations.
