Global Network of Health Equity Doctoral Scholars

?? Exciting Things Ahead in 2025! ?? The Doctoral & PostDoc Health Equity & Policy Scholars Support Network has an incredible year planned, filled with opportunities for collaboration, connection, and growth. Stay tuned for impactful events, resources, and initiatives that empower scholars to shape the future of health equity and policy! ?? Watch this space—2025 is going to be inspiring!

Happy Friday, Scholars! It is that time, again! Our next Friday Fellow Feature Scholar, Alexander Adia! Alexander is a health policy researcher who’s tackling some of the biggest issues in healthcare markets, consumer protections, and policy reform! As a third-year doctoral student in Health Policy at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Alexander is at the forefront of understanding how shifts in healthcare regulations impact financial burden and quality of care. His research is all about protecting consumers, from addressing surprise medical billing to examining antitrust policies in response to the growing consolidation of healthcare systems. With support from organizations like Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the California Policy Lab, and the RWJF Health Policy Research Scholars Program, Alexander is leading efforts to ensure healthcare remains accessible, equitable, and transparent. His work doesn’t just analyze policy—it shapes the future of how we regulate and experience healthcare. We’re lucky to have Alexander in this space, fighting to make the healthcare system work for the people, not just the industry, as it should be! We are happy to have you in the Network, Alexander! #FridayFellowFeature #HealthPolicy #HealthEquity #RWJF #DataForGood

Happy Friday, Scholars! For this week's Friday Fellow Feature, we are spotlighting Laura Lightfoot, whose research takes place at the intersection of incarceration and public health, tackling one of the most urgent crises of our time; overdose prevention in carceral settings. As a third-year Ph.D. student in Criminology and Criminal Justice at ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions and a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, Laura is committed to bridging the gap between public health and the justice system. As a Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP) Scholar with the JCOIN Coordination and Translation Center, Laura examines access to substance use treatment and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in correctional facilities and how correctional staff and residents are educated, trained, and prepared to respond to overdoses, which is a critical area where lives hang in the balance. Her work highlights the systemic barriers that limit harm reduction efforts while pushing for policy and practice changes that can save lives. Through her research, Laura aims to equip correctional settings with better harm reduction strategies, ensuring that justice-involved populations receive the healthcare and support they need! We’re proud to feature Laura’s work and celebrate her commitment to evidence-based solutions for some of our most pressing public health challenges! We are proud to have you in the Network, Laura! ?? #FridayFellowFeature #CriminalJustice #PublicHealth #OverdosePrevention #HarmReduction #JusticeReform #MOUD #HealthEquity #JCOIN

Happy beginning to the weekend, Scholars! This week’s Friday Fellow Feature takes us to the unique intersection of transportation equity, public health, and innovation, featuring Christian Douglas, a Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (CEEatGT) and National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow. Christian’s research dives into the equity and public health implications of vehicle automation technology. As transportation mechanisms evolve, so too should our understanding of who it benefits, who it leaves behind, and how we ensure accessibility for all. His work examines how people interact with these emerging technologies on our roadways, with a focus on usability, safety, and real-world impact. With a B.S. in Civil Engineering and B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, Christian bridges the gap between infrastructure, policy, and equity making sure that the future of transportation doesn’t just move forward, but moves fairly. Why does this work matter? Safe, accessible, and equitable transportation is a public health issue. Disadvantaged communities often face barriers to mobility, and Christian is determined to figure out how as new transportation technologies emerge, they serve everyone and not just a privileged few. Through the Health Policy Research Scholars program, he’s leveraging interdisciplinary insights to build a more inclusive, person-centered transportation system. We are elated to feature and follow your work, Christian! #FridayFellowFeature #TransportationEquity #PublicHealth #MobilityForAll #CivilEngineering #PolicyInnovation #FutureOfTransportation

???? Okay, Scholars! It's Valentine's Day, and we have a very special Friday Fellow DOUBLE Feature: A Valentine’s Day Love Story in Public Health & Medicine! This week’s Friday Fellow Feature is extra special because we’re celebrating love AND a shared passion for making the world a better place—spotlighting the incredible duo, Alex Rodriguez, MPH & Jeff Dela Cruz! ?? Alex and Jeff’s journey began as seniors in high school and as fate would have it, they were both later scheduled for the same Preview Orientation at the University of Florida, where they reconnected as undergrads in the Applied Physiology & Kinesiology program at the University of Florida - College of Health & Human Performance. From their first moments in Gainesville, something clicked—literally in harmony. ?? Since then, their love has grown alongside their impressive careers! Alex is now a Ph.D. Candidate in Public Health specializing in Arts in Public Health and working under Dr. Jill Sonke at the University of Florida - Center for Arts in Medicine and is an RWJF Fellow in the Health Policy Research Scholars program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Jeff graduated from University of Florida College of Medicine with his M.D. and subsequently matched into his dream Orthopedic Surgery residency! ???? But these two aren’t just brilliant scholars and practitioners—they’re creators in every sense. When they’re not harmonizing through music (Alex, a singer with a background in choir and musical theater; Jeff, a multi-instrumentalist who grew up playing in a cover band), they’re rolling up their sleeves and building together. ??? From home renovations to furniture-making, their love of craftsmanship was inspired by Alex’s late father, who passed down his skills to both of them. Alex and Jeff’s story is proof that love, like public health and medicine, thrives on passion, dedication, and teamwork. Whether they’re healing patients, transforming public health through the arts, making music, or building something new together, they’re a powerhouse pair inspiring everyone around them. So here’s to love and lifelong learning! Happy Valentine’s Day to this amazing duo! ???? #FridayFellowFeature #ValentinesDay #LoveAndScience #PublicHealth #OrthopedicSurgery #ArtsInMedicine #PowerCouple #GatorNation

The Boston Congress of Public Health is recruiting for our Public Health Thought Leaders Fellowship. This is our fifth cohort since 2021! ?? TODAY: 12:30 pm PST. ? Register here for the Informational Session. https://lnkd.in/g9Jdxi4W

?????? For those looking for summer internships and practicums.

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