2022 UCLA FIELDING SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS CEREMONY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
Program WELCOME Dean Ron Brookmeyer
CONTINUING STUDENT AWARDS Abdelmonem A. Afifi Student Fellowship Celia G. and Joseph G. Blann Fellowship E. Richard (Rick) Brown Social Justice Fellowship Juneal Marie Smith Fellowship in International Nutrition Samuel Tibbitts Fellowship
GRADUATING STUDENT AWARDS Dean's Outstanding Student Award Carolbeth Korn Scholars Award
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT FELLOWSHIPS CLOSING Dean Ron Brookmeyer
Welcome from the Dean Dear Students, Families, Friends and Colleagues,
DR. RON BROOKMEYER
Welcome to the 2022 Student Academic Honors and Awards Ceremony. We're delighted to have faculty, staff, students, friends, colleagues, and loved ones from across the country and around the globe join our in-person and livestreamed ceremony, which recognizes the exceptional achievements of our students as well as the support they have received from all of you every step of the way. This celebration also affords us an opportunity to reflect on the dedication and distinction of each of our student award winners, especially during this challenging time. The unwavering commitment and academic excellence of our students is inspiring, and it is just the beginning of their incredible journeys. I greatly look forward to seeing the impact that our students will have in years to come, in pursuit of transformational and lasting health equity. Thank you for being with us today and congratulations to all of the award winners! Dr. Ron Brookmeyer Dean Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Continuing Student Awards Abdelmonem A. Afifi Student Fellowship Presented by Dr. Julie Elginer The Abdelmonem A. Afifi Student Fellowship was established upon Professor Afifi's completion of 15 years of service as Dean of the school. Recipients are selected for academic excellence and demonstrating a well-balanced and humanitarian understanding of the field of public health.
KARINA ALEXIS BARAJAS HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
Continuing Student Awards Celia G. and Joseph G. Blann Fellowship Presented by Dr. Andrew Holbrook and Dr. May Sudhinaraset Annette Blann created the Celia G. and Joseph G. Blann Fellowship, awarded annually to doctoral students on the basis of academic excellence, to honor the memory of her parents. A 1954 UCLA graduate, she was committed to the enhancement of health and the promotion of well-being.
RICHARD LLOYD WILLIAMS BIOSTATISTICS
REBECCA WOOFTER COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES
Continuing Student Awards E. Richard (Rick) Brown Social Justice Fellowship Presented by Dr. Ninez Ponce The E. Richard (Rick) Brown Social Justice Fellowship was established in honor of the late faculty member Rick Brown, founder of the Center for Health Policy Research, and provides support to a student who conducts research and/or advocates policy to expand health coverage for all.
CARLOS IRWIN AGUSTIN ORONCE HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
Continuing Student Awards Juneal Marie Smith Fellowship in International Nutrition Presented by Dr. Zuo-Feng Zhang Juneal Smith's parents established the Juneal Marie Smith Fellowship in their daughter's memory to support graduate students pursuing careers in international nutrition. Juneal Marie Smith, who received her MPH and PhD from the Fielding School, combined her scholarship with a commitment to helping underserved communities worldwide through her work in the area of nutrition.
XINYUE LIU EPIDEMIOLOGY
Continuing Student Awards Samuel J. Tibbitts Fellowship Presented by Dr. Yifang Zhu Family members and friends established the Samual J. Tibbitts Fellowship in honor of Samuel Tibbitts to award students for their academic excellence and commitment to public health. Samuel Tibbitts received a bachelor's degree in public health from UCLA in 1949. A pioneer in the field of managed care, he founded PacifiCare, one of the nation's first major HMOs, and was vice chair until his death in 1994.
JONATHAN LIU ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Graduating Student Awards Dean's Outstanding Student Award Introduced by Dean Ron Brookmeyer Each year all five departments nominate one student who has demonstrated exemplary scholastic achievement, community service and leadership in their class to receive the Dean's Outstanding Student Award. Presented by Dr. Sudipto Banerjee, Dr. Chandra Ford, Dr. Yifang Zhu, Dr. Pamina Gorbach, and Dr. Nadereh Pourat.
LEIWEN GAO
ALLISON DIANE ROSEN
BIOSTATISTICS EPIDEMIOLOGY
REBEKAH DIANNE ISRAEL CROSS
ELAINE MICHELLE ALBERTSON
COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES
HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
LIQIAO LI ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Graduating Student Awards Carolbeth Korn Scholar Award Introduced by Dean Ron Brookmeyer Presented by Dr. Onyebuchi Arah The late Carolbeth Korn received her bachelor's degree in public health from UCLA and was a long-time supporter and former member of the Dean's Advisory Board. In 2005, Carolbeth established an endowed prize to financially and publicly acknowledge, for generations to come, the Fielding School's most outstanding graduating student. Each year's recipient is selected by the Dean and academic leadership from across the school.
MELISSA ANNE SOOHOO EPIDEMIOLOGY
Public Health Impact Fellowships Awarded to students based on their impact in public health and how it connects to their experience at FSPH. Students were challenged to creatively share how they effect change and impact public health.
Lester Breslow Impact Award Fellowship Presented by Dr. Julienne Jose-Chen
ALYSSA BETTINA ARBOLANTE COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES
Public Health Impact Fellowship Presented by Dr. Julienne Jose-Chen
ANIKA KASHAWN WASHINGTON HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
GABRIELA EVA LAZALDE COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES