Since 2020, the UGA College of Public Health has partnered with the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) to pair students with cities to address health disparities and advance health equity across Georgia. Through the Health Equity Fellows Program, students and partner cities work together to address long-standing issues and promote wellbeing through a social determinants of health approach.

Six Health Equity Fellows are chosen to serve each academic year. If selected, students receive a $1,000 stipend from the College to support them in their work. Fellows also receive a faculty mentor and participate in a peer learning community as a cohort. Final projects will be presented in a symposium held each April.

Meet our 2023 Cohort

The UGA College of Public Health’s 2023 Spring cohort of Health Equity Fellows will support six Metro-Atlanta cities with well-being, health equity and health disparities research. Learn more.

The 2023 Health Equity Fellows and their partnering cities are:

• • Abigail Ventimiglia, MPH candidate, Health Policy & Management, working with Decatur;
  • Abraham Adokwei, PhD candidate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, working with Atlanta;
  • Henry Kitiabi, PhD candidate, Health Promotion & Behavior, Global Health Institute, working with Clarkston;
  • Melat Mekonnen, undergraduate student, Health Promotion & Behavior, working with College Park;
  • Rylee Dickinson, MPH Candidate, Health Policy & Management, working with Chamblee;
  • Caleb Snead, MPH Candidate, Health Promotion & Behavior, working with East Point.

Projects undertaken by the 2023 Cohort of Health Equity Fellows will support the Metro Atlanta Cities Wellbeing Initiative, a collaboration between the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI) and the Georgia Municipal Association.

The Initiative, which takes place from January to August 2023, provides support to municipalities interested in implementing available Metro-Atlanta wellbeing data in local decision making and policy action. Participating cities include Chamblee, City of Atlanta, Clarkston, College Park, Decatur, and East Point.

“Wellbeing Stewards” from each participating city will leave the Initiative with short-term and long-term action plans that utilize wellbeing metrics in local policy or programs specific to their home city. CPH Health Equity Fellows support this work by providing research and recommendations that will be made available to each Wellbeing Steward as they create their city-specific action plans.

The Spring 2023 Cohort will present their final projects at a symposium held on April 19, 2023 at the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta, Georgia from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. More details.

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How to Apply

The College of Public Health is no longer accepting applications for the Health Equity Fellows Cohort of 2023.

The Health Equity Fellows Program accepts applications during the Fall semester of each year. If selected, students receive a $1,000 stipend from the College to support them in their work. Fellows also receive a faculty mentor and participate in a peer learning community as a cohort. Applications are typically due by mid-September of the Fall semester.

Please contact Rebecca Baskam at rbaskam@uga.edu for information.

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Past Recipients

2022 Class of Health Equity Fellows –

• Vanessa Diokpara, MPH candidate, Health Policy & Management, worked with East Point;
• Leila Farist, MPH candidate, Epidemiology, worked with Hiawassee;
• Kristi Sprowl, DrPH candidate, Health Policy & Management, worked with Albany;
• Pryce Nwabude, MPH candidate, Health Policy & Management, worked with Tifton;
• Sloane Sengson, undergraduate student, Health Promotion & Behavior, worked with Decatur.

Inaugural 2021 Class of Health Equity Fellows –

• Kenya Murray, PhD student, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, worked with Fitzgerald;
• Carlyncia McDowell, MPH candidate, Disaster Management, worked with Milledgeville;
• Harrison Huang, MPH candidate, Epidemiology, worked with Young Harris;
• Amber Bullard, undergraduate student, Health Promotion and Behavior, worked in College Park;
• Jennifer Quezada, undergraduate student, Health Promotion and Behavior, worked in Moultrie.

Presentations from our inaugural cohort of CPH Health Equity Fellows can be viewed below: