Resha Terae Swanson
By Kirsten onFOCUSFair labor policies and standards are core to improving job quality for black, Latinx, and immigrant workers in the…
Jenna Warren
By Kirsten onFOCUSIn her work, Jenna hopes to highlight pathways to mitigate and prevent negative health outcomes in minority communities. While…
Ashley M. Ortiz Chico
By Kirsten onFOCUSAshley’s research focuses on community organizing for environmental justice in the coastal communities of Puerto Rico. She’s interested in…
Michelle Goulette
By Kirsten onFOCUSBarriers to accessing health information and healthcare services have disproportionately affected racial minorities and low-socioeconomic-status groups in…
Brianna J. Suslovic
By Kirsten onFOCUSBrianna seeks to remedy gaps in access to client-centered, trauma-informed, and uninterrupted mental healthcare for individuals accused of crimes…
Corina Penaia
By Kirsten onFOCUSCorina is committed to improving health disparities and social determinants of health in underserved populations, notably Native Hawaiians and…
Julián Ponce
By Kirsten onFOCUSJulián’s research informs policy that ensures Latinx and underrepresented communities have an equitable opportunity to live their longest and…
Saira Rabia Afzal
By Kirsten onFOCUSSuicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10–24, with rates increasing exponentially over the past…
Seth Allard
By Kirsten onFOCUSSeth’s research interests center on military and veteran suicide and Native American youth suicide. Seth pursues collaborative and qualitative…
Andrew Joaquin Bolibol
By Kirsten onFOCUSAndrew’s research focuses on the barriers to healthcare access and utilization of healthcare services, particularly for LGBTQ and racial/ethnic…
Samyu Comandur
By Kirsten onFOCUSHow do reproductive healthcare clinics respond to anti-abortion protests? How do anti-abortion protests and counter-organizing strategies affect the quali…
Aisha Diane Fletcher, PhD
By Kirsten onFOCUSHealth disparities, inequities, and inequalities are not just a happenstance. They are often rooted in, shaped, and sustained by…
Hoisum Lynn Nguyen
By Kirsten onFOCUSHow do we define trauma now, and is the current definition sufficient in encompassing the mental, physical, and generational…
Calaia S. Jackson
By Kirsten onFOCUSAll students, families, and communities deserve equitable access to clean, safe, healthy, and high-quality public education, regardless of their…
Cheryl Aguilar
By Kirsten onFOCUSCheryl studies the mental health impact of migration; the interplay of policy, politics, and mental health; and other structural…
Tiffani A. Elliott
By Kirsten onFOCUSHealthcare policies that consider social and structural determinants of mental health and incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are…
Déja Imani Fitzgerald
By Kirsten onFOCUSDéja’s research interests are centered on exploring social and psychosocial determinants of health for communities with multiple minoritized identities,…
Sierra Clark
By Kirsten onFOCUSSierra is interested in understanding how to make green spaces (e.g., parks, lakes, community gardens) more accessible to black…
Maya K. Bracy
By Kirsten onFOCUSMaya studies applied developmental science and is interested in embedding concepts of child social, emotional, and biobehavioral development within…
Laura Joaquina Morales
By Kirsten onFOCUSLaura is passionate about improving the lives of those who lack access to clean water due to affordability or…
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.
