UCLA Fielding School of Public Health gets $1M from Dream Fund to recruit, support outstanding students
Gift provides scholarships, funds internships for future public health leaders.
The UCLA Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health has received a $1 million gift from the Dream Fund, a donor-advised fund and philanthropic partnership created in 2011 between UCLA and the Lincy Foundation. The gift will launch the school's new Future Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program, whose goal is to attract and train exceptional students for the public health workforce.
Low-income and minority communities experience disproportionate disease burden. In California and around the world, poor people live in the areas with the most severe health problems — the worst air quality, poorest nutrition and greatest exposure to toxins. As a result, they have a life expectancy five years less than their more affluent counterparts. It is especially important that students from these communities have an opportunity to get the best education and then return to their communities to make change.
The new fellowship program will provide scholarships to top applicants for the school's master's in public health program, ensuring that cost is not a barrier for outstanding students who want to specialize in public health. The fellowship will cover full tuition and will fund the students' internships in underserved communities during the summer between their first and second year.
"We are extremely grateful for the vision and commitment of the Dream Fund in helping us begin this important program," said Dr. Jody Heymann, dean of the Fielding School. "Our students are passionate, talented and committed to making the world a better and healthier place. This donation will help the school attract the best students to work with communities where the need is greatest."
In 2012, 1,200 students applied for admission to the Fielding School. Ninety percent of the 221 admitted students needed tuition assistance. Aid was available for 56 percent of them. The availability of this additional merit-based scholarship funding will help the Fielding School recruit the most talented and diverse future public health leaders.
"This new fellowship program will allow many to begin their careers in public health without the burden of being saddled with debt," Heymann added.
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health is dedicated to enhancing the public's health by conducting innovative research; training future leaders and health professionals; translating research into policy and practice; and serving local, national and global communities.
Faculty Referenced in this Article
Nationally recognized health services researcher and sociomedical scientist with 25+ years' experience in effectiveness and implementation research.
EMPH Academic Program Director with expertise in healthcare marketing, finance, and reproductive health policy, teaching in the EMPH, MPH, MHA program
Director of Field Studies and Applied Professional Training
Dr. Hankinson is a Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and of EHS, and Chair of the Molecular Toxicology IDP
Dr. Joseph Davey is an infectious disease epidemiologist with over 20 years' experience leading research on HIV/STI services for women and children.
Dr. Michelle S. Keller is a health services researcher whose research focuses on the use and prescribing of high-risk medications.
Robert J. Kim-Farley, MD, MPH, is a Professor-in-Residence with joint appointments in the Departments of Epidemiology and Community Health Sciences
Associate Professor for Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Health Sciences
Assistant Dean for Research & Adjunct Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences
Industrial Hygiene & Analytical Chemistry
Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research
Dr. Ron Andersen is the Wasserman Professor Emeritus in the UCLA Departments of Health Policy and Management.
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