Shania Montúfar
By Kirsten onFOCUSShania's research lies at the intersection of demography, health, immigration, and gender studies. In particular, her research explores the…
Dougie Zubizarreta
By Kirsten onFOCUSDougie's research examines structural determinants of health in relation to intersecting social positions and systems of power and oppression…
Ezequiel Dominguez
By Kirsten onFOCUSEzequiel's research focuses on addressing the critical gaps in understanding and support for Latinos involved in day labor and…
Jesse Brisbois
By Kirsten onFOCUSJesse Brisbois is working to create a Culture of Health for Native communities through the utilization of both western…
Alexander C. Adia
By Kirsten onFOCUSInequities in health and healthcare are dynamic and shaped by changes in markets, social conditions, and policies. Alexander's work…
Alexandra K. Rodriguez
By Kirsten onFOCUSEquitable access to arts engagement has the propensity to promote forms of social cohesion and wellbeing along with health…
Turquoise Skye Devereaux
By Kirsten onFOCUSIndigenous people are one of the most resilient populations anyone will encounter. This is due to the historical and…
Alex Sheehan
By Kirsten onFOCUSAlthough access to healthcare for mental ill-health and substance use disorders has been greatly improved across the United States,…
Andy Archer
By Kirsten onFOCUSAndy researches the role of labor in subject formation and substance use/abuse. Through mixed-method participatory research, Andy seeks to…
Brittney Pemberton
By Kirsten onFOCUS The white supremacist norms of academia perpetuate policies and practices that center individualism and competition as measures of success.…
Tremaine Sails-Dunbar
By Kirsten onFOCUSTremaine's ultimate goal is to reduce mental health disparities among African American men through empowering churches and faith-based organizations…
Jonathan Petty
By Kirsten onFOCUSTraditional healthcare practices continue to plague financially at-risk communities by raising healthcare costs and gentrifying such communities for more…
Yesi Camacho Torres
By Kirsten onFOCUSIn her doctoral work, Yesi explores how social determinants including migration, poverty, and trauma influence the mental health of…
Sooyoun Park
By Kirsten onFOCUSNative Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. experience numerous health disparities rooted in histories of oppression, colonization, and…
David López Veneros
By Kirsten onFOCUSDavid's research interests are focused on assessing and addressing social and structural determinants of health among sexual and gender…
Nicolás “Nico” Juárez
By Kirsten onFOCUS"A world where many worlds fit." The aim and sentiment of this revolutionary slogan informs Nico's research on how…
Shane Trujillo
By Kirsten onFOCUSBroadly speaking, Shane's research aims to amplify the reality of triumphs and challenges that queer and trans people of…
Jordyn R. Ricard
By Kirsten onFOCUSJordyn actively strives to end the criminalization of minoritized individuals by shedding light on structural disadvantages that unfairly target…
Olivia Staples
By Kirsten onFOCUSThe goal of Olivia's work is to empower young people who have been placed at a disadvantage by society.…
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.
