Health Equity Scholars

Five years after the launch of the Health Equity Scholars program—built to train diverse leaders and target health disparities—five graduates look back on their time at Brown.

Over the past five years, the Brown University School of Public Health has undergone a profound transformation, evolving into one of the nation’s most impactful public health institutions. During the tenure of Dean Ashish K. Jha, the school navigated unprecedented times in public health and higher education, emerging more inclusive, more interdisciplinary and deeply prepared for the challenges ahead.

An innovative online summer course empowers budding environmentalists nationwide to tackle local public health challenges, fostering informed and engaged community leaders.

The health equity advocate and mentor has been honored with the School of Public Health’s 2025 Alumni Impact Award for his service to Rhode Island’s communities.

This summer MPH student Derrick Webb performed mixed-methods research in Nairobi, attended an HIV conference in Munich and finally joined other emerging leaders in HIV/AIDS research at the prestigious White House Rising Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.

Rosenny Taveras and Dioscaris Garcia, Ph.D. ’12 are devoted to one another, and to the programs they oversee supporting underrepresented students at Brown. This DEI power couple is enriching the Brown campus community and diversifying our health care workforce, one student at a time.

Trinity Perkins shares her experience working as a health policy and educational legislative intern for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Brown MPH student Michael Thompson was awarded an inaugural Royce Graduate Student Research Award to build a tech solution that connects the recently incarcerated with health and wellness resources.

One of the newest branches of the Health Equity Scholars program equips Rhode Islanders with the skills to make their home state healthier.

The historic California estate was the backdrop for a special HES retreat where students, mentors and experts gathered in supportive community, dedicated to improving the world through their work.

MPH student Kristen Smith is working to create tools and resources that lower the burden of loneliness for homebound older adults.

The Health Equity Scholars program will train leaders in public health who can make a substantial difference in reducing health disparities and addressing systemic racism.

By expanding the voices in public health – by changing the makeup of public health leadership – we can together play a helpful role in addressing racism as a public health problem