The Latino Center for Health (LCH) is investing $30,000 annually to develop a new generation of leaders who will respond to current and emerging health issues faced by the diverse Latinx/e/o communities in our state. In the five years that the Fellowship has existed, we have supported and mentored approximately 57 graduate student scholars and invested over $150,000 cumulatively with the help of our educational partners (the University of Washington (UW), Heritage University, Eastern University, and Washington State University). This graduate student fellowship supports student scholars irrespective of legal status and also promotes a path towards collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts aimed at addressing persistent disparities among a sub-population of Latinos in the State.
“The shortage of bilingual and bicultural health professionals in our state is pronounced. The Latino Center for Health is staunchly committed to helping expand the state’s health professions pipeline by supporting the next generation of leaders and scholars who are doing excellent work to promote the health and wellbeing of our state’s Latinx communities,” commented Dr. Gino Aisenberg, associate professor in the UW School of Social Work and co-director of the LCH. “It’s also a great opportunity for recipients of this fellowship to connect with students from other disciplines and schools, and with faculty and staff of the Center as well.”
This opportunity is offered annually to cohorts of up to 14 graduate or professional students who demonstrate a commitment to improving the health of Latinx communities with a $2,500 fellowship, matched by the schools, for a total fellowship of $5,000. Funds are disbursed throughout both the winter and spring quarters. Fellowships are awarded to nominees identified through the Deans/Presidents/Chancellor’s of the respective programs of study to one or two students from UW Seattle Schools of Health Science, UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, Heritage University (a designated Hispanic institution), Washington State University, and Eastern University.
Please note: The respective schools select their awardee, not LCH. If you are interested in being named as a recipient of this Fellowship, you need to contact the dean of your school.
Congratulations to our 5th Annual Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship 2024 Recipients
An outstanding cohort of 13 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington, Heritage University, Eastern University, and Washington State University was specifically selected as recipients of the Latino Center for Health 5th Annual Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship Program.
This fellowship program plays an important role in helping meet the demand for Latinx and Spanish-speaking healthcare workers in WA state by providing crucial financial and community support to students in the health sciences.
“This fellowship program provides crucial funding to students,” says Dr. Gino Aisenberg.
The graduate or professional student cohort selected for the 2024 Fellowship program is:
- Larissa Garza, University of Washington, School of Social Work
- Jocelyn Velazquez-Fresnares, University of Washington, School of Social Work
- Norma Garfias Avila, PhD, University of Washington, School of Public Health
- Brian Cedeno, University of Washington, School of Medicine
- Abraham Correa-Medina, University of Washington, School of Medicine
- Erika Reinhardt, University of Washington, Division of Occupational Therapy
- Felipe Montano-Campos, University of Washington, School of Pharmacy
- Stephanie Bazalar, University of Washington, Bothell School of Business
- Jose Guadalupe Reyes, University of Washington, School of Nursing
- Jose Cuauhtemoc Ortiz, University of Washington, School of Dentistry
- Katarina A Sanchez, Eastern University
- Alejandro Matias, Washington State University
- Jhow Alexander Garcia, Heritage University
“The recipients of the Latino Center for Health Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship Program are the future leaders of Latinx communities in our state and region,” added Dr. Leo Morales, Professor and Assistant Dean of the UW School of Medicine and co-director of the LCH. “They are the most important aspect of the Latino Center for Health’s aspirations and vision.”