Center for Health Equity Summer Intensive Fellowship Experience

By Wes Gibson

The Center for Health Equity (CHE) launched a paid summer intensive fellowship experience (SIFE) in health equity as an opportunity for graduate students at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. The framework for SIFE was informed and designed by students, along with guidance and support from Jemima John, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of epidemiology and CHE researcher. Along with generous support from the Shine Academy for Health Sciences Education, Odinakachukwu Dimbga and Ruchi Pavaskar were selected as the inaugural fellows.

During their experience over the summer of 2024, Dimbga and Pavaskar were matched with CHE faculty, and received specialized training and experience on health equity research efforts, participated in a six-week health equity summer course which included local and national speakers on health equity, engaged in CHE activities, and completed a major project.

Dimgba, an MPH Epidemiology student projected to graduate in spring 2025, describes her experience as “immensely rewarding.” She applied for the SIFE to deepen her understanding of health equity and address health disparities. Holding a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Nigeria, she observed firsthand how socioeconomic status (SES) influenced health inequities. During the fellowship, she worked on a variety of essential skill-building opportunities, such as attending CHE meetings, developing an elevator pitch with John, and networking with other CHE employees. Her primary research project involved validating qualitative analysis from a study exploring community health workers' workplace experiences. Another personal highlight included volunteering for Community Action Poverty Simulation, a four-hour workshop for students in medicine, nursing, and dentistry designed to educate students on the role that systems-level factors play in determining health outcomes. Summarizing her experience with SIFE, Dimgba states, “This fellowship was pivotal in illuminating aspects of health equity and public health and identifying areas for my future contributions. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and support from everyone at the Center for Health Equity.”

Pavaskar, an MPH student in Epidemiology graduating in the summer of 2024, also found the SIFE transformative in her journey toward a public health career. The fellowship equipped her with critical insights and practical experience to build her foundational knowledge of the field. Her interest in health equity was sparked by her visit to a rural area in India during her dentistry studies, where she witnessed the impact and effects of health disparities. The fellowship enhanced her skill set by building her knowledge base and providing hands-on experience, such as working with Ryan Ramphul, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and CHE researcher, assisting with a grant proposal. Additionally, she developed a project on food insecurity and lower SES patients with cancer under Marcia de Oliveira Otto, PhD, MS, assistant professor of epidemiology and CHE researcher. Post-graduation, Pavaskar aspires to work full-time in public health, potentially as a research coordinator, and eventually pursue a PhD in epidemiology focusing on cancer health disparities. She expressed gratitude for the mentorship opportunities and advises future SIFE students to take full advantage of the learning opportunities, mentorship, and professional growth the fellowship offers.

As the CHE concludes its first SIFE, John reflects on the journey and the importance of preparing emerging scientists to address systemic drivers of poor health outcomes in Houston. "This health equity summer intensive fellowship is our moonshot solution to addressing gaps in graduate research opportunities by nurturing health equity knowledge and professional skills through comprehensive exposure to foundational health equity topics, student-led research projects, and career development activities. We are delighted by the fellowship's transformative impact and look forward to its expansion and cemented role in cultivating health equity competencies in future public health scientists," she said.

CHE Director Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, remarks, “The vision of our health equity fellowship is to foster, nurture, and train the next generation of public health researchers and practitioners who will use a health equity-based framework and approach to their work, and also learn how to communicate, and advocate for these efforts. We intend to continue and expand on our graduate fellowship opportunity in the future.”

To learn more about the summer intensive fellowship or how to engage with the CHE, visit our website here.