Williams-Hutchins Health Equity Award
The Williams-Hutchins Health Equity Award recognizes exceptional CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars [formerly CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS)] Program student projects that advance health disparity science and minority health. The projects highlight the work from students’ summer experiences working in public health. The award honors the outstanding public health careers of Walter W. Williams, MD, MPH, FACPM (CAPT, USPHS, Ret.) and Sonja S. Hutchins, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM.
2018 Recipient: Kelly Reyna
Project Title: A County in Crisis: Housing as a Social Determinant of Health in Los Angeles County
Mentors: Richard L. Zaldivar, Christopher Aono, and Hanna Paola Silva
Project Placement: The Wall-Las Memorias Project
Project Details: Kelly interned at The Wall-Las Memorias Project, a community health organization in Los Angeles that serves low-income and hard to reach communities throughout Los Angeles, which educates community members on the importance of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse prevention, and community building in the LGBT community. She worked alongside the organization’s executive director and HIV program manager to address the health needs of the community and participate in advocacy and community engaged program planning. For her health equity project at UCLA, she was part of a team of scholars that examined housing as a social determinant of health and researched how the absence of adequate housing impacts community health. The group also explored the impact gentrification has on housing and homelessness.
During Kelly’s participation in the UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program, she exemplified outstanding leadership and exceptional teamwork, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking skills. Kelly plans to pursue a career in the field of public health and is committed to advancing health equity.
Honorable Mention: Sierra MacEachron and Ayanna Smith
2019 Recipient: Nohely Hernandez Pineda
Project Title: A Closer Look Into How We Are Failing Black Trans Women: Barriers to Adequate HIV Care
Mentor: Andrea Williams, MPA
Project Placement: Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers
Project Details: Nohely interned at Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers, a non-profit organization established to sustain, coordinate, and improve healthcare access and delivery to the impoverished and vulnerable community members of south Los Angeles. Nohely assisted with the Care Coordination program which connects patients back to their primary care provider after being discharged from the hospital. She also conducted outreach, provided health education, and worked with the team to organize an annual “Walk for Health” back-to-school event.
During Nohely’s participation in the UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program, she exemplified outstanding leadership. She demonstrated exceptional teamwork, problem-solving skills, and was also a dynamic critical and creative thinker. Additionally, her mentors and co-workers spoke incredibly highly of her and her contributions. According to her fellow scholars, “Nohely is a confident and hardworking health advocate, offering her own insights while making space for and being open-minded towards others.” Nohely expressed a dedication to pursuing a career in public health with a focus on advancing health equity.
Honorable Mention: Joana Fernandez-Nunez and Safa S. Salem
2021 Recipient: Melina Rodriguez
Project Title: The Imprisonment Epidemic: Addressing the Prison Industrial Complex Through a Public Health Lens
Mentor: Evelin Tomayo-Hernandez, MPH
Project Placement: VenaVer Events
Project Details: Melina interned at VenaVer Events, a community and food advocacy organization that develops and operates certified farmers’ markets and community events throughout Los Angeles County. VenaVer also partners with Hunger Action LA 501(c)3 to fight food inequities through food distribution events, advocacy, and market programs like Market Match. Melina actively participated in community outreach and petition signature collection for the expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentives, a program that advances health equity by helping families with low incomes gain more access to healthy foods. She also assisted with on-site Cal-Fresh sign-ups, EBT processing, and worked with the team to develop a free community wellness event.
Melina’s health equity group was responsible for facilitating a group discussion on the topic of mass incarceration as it relates to public health. Alongside her peers, she presented on the topic as well as co-hosted a panel of professionals working in the field of criminal justice reform. Her group health equity project, presented at the CDC showcase, offered public health strategies to address disproportionate rates of incarceration.
Honorable Mentions: Camryn Williams and Marie Nzeyimana
2022 Recipient: Anou Vang
Project Title: Addressing Mental Health Within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Higher Education
Mentor: Anthony Reyes, Ed.M
Project Placement: Community Health Councils
Project Details: Anou interned with Community Health Council’s Social Change Institute, which works in partnership with community leaders representing non-profits, youth advocacy groups, community residents, and grassroots organizations to collectively build equitable systems and sustainable movements. Anou was instrumental in community engagement efforts and in the planning of an in-person summit.
Anou’s health equity group was responsible for facilitating a group discussion on the topic of Mental Health and Substance Use as it relates to public health. Alongside her peers, she presented on the topic as well as co-hosted a panel of professionals working in the field of mental health and harm reduction. Her group health equity project, presented at the CDC Showcase, explored solutions to improve the mental health of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in higher education settings.
Honorable Mentions: Monia Zein and Adeline Rosales
