Grant & Award Recipients

Each year, Aequitas Health awards competitive grants to fellow and chapter projects demonstrating community partnership, measurable impact, and sustainability. Outstanding submissions are also recognized as Distinguished Finalists.

2Grant Cycles
7Winners
11Finalists

2025–26 Grant & Award Recipients

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Grant & Award Winners
Chapter Project of the Year

ICC Skin Equity Initiative

Dr. Melissa Chen · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

A community-first approach to dermatological health disparities, consulting local leaders and community partners before developing curriculum. Features partnerships with Mano a Mano and the North Chicago Think Tank, using home-accessible formats like Facebook Live and podcast-style series to reach community members facing barriers to in-person care.

Chapter Project Grant

COPE Medication Adherence Project — Medication Support Toolkit

Christian Henry · University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson

A data-driven quality improvement approach addressing medication non-adherence within populations served by COPE Community Services in Southern Arizona. The toolkit includes transportation assistance, bilingual medication explanation cards, pill sorting packets, and copay assistance for migrant and Indigenous populations.

Fellow Project Grant

Menstrual Equity at Nuvance Health

Javier Rincon · Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont

An implementation-ready initiative providing free menstrual products in visitor and patient-facing bathrooms throughout the Nuvance Health system. The project secured institutional permission for system-wide installation at the main hospital in Danbury, CT, and extends to outpatient community clinics.

Distinguished Chapter Project Grant Finalists
Chapter Project Grant Finalist

ICC Vaccine/Screening Program Expansion

Caroline Madigan · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Expanding vaccination and preventive screening services at the Interprofessional Community Clinic to increase access for underserved populations in North Chicago.

Chapter Project Grant Finalist

Chicago Street Medicine for Homeless Care

Aayush Gupta · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Delivering medical care directly to individuals experiencing homelessness through street medicine outreach in the Chicago area.

Chapter Project Grant Finalist

Winter Supply Drive for Midwest Street Medicine

Hannah DeHoogh-Kliewer · University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Organizing essential winter supply distribution for street medicine patients in the Midwest, providing cold-weather gear alongside basic healthcare services.

Distinguished Fellow Project Grant Finalists
Fellow Project Grant Finalist

Mini Medical School Take-Home Curriculum Expansion

Kayla Talebi · Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Expanding the Mini Medical School program with take-home materials and hands-on activities to extend health and science education into families and homes in underserved communities.

Fellow Project Grant Finalist

Chicago Street Medicine Chapter Development

Kristina Nguyen · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Building organizational infrastructure for a sustainable street medicine program in Chicago, including volunteer coordination and community partnerships.

Fellow Project Grant Finalist

Health Equity Course Community Member Research

Tommi Tsao & Aroosha Aamir · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Integrating community member perspectives into health equity coursework through participatory research, ensuring curriculum reflects the lived experiences of the populations it addresses.

2024–25 Grant Recipients

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Grant Winners
Fellow Project Grant

FutureCare Directions: Empowering Patient Choices at Anderson Free Clinic

Megan McDonald · Medical University of South Carolina

Implementing advanced care planning services at Anderson Free Clinic, ensuring underserved populations have access to end-of-life care discussions and documentation. Includes patient education materials and provider training.

Fellow Project Grant

Mini-Medical School Family Engagement Program

Joseph Rumenapp · Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School

Expanding the Mini-Medical School program to provide hands-on medical education to underrepresented elementary school students. Features take-home activities and bilingual materials engaging families in supporting their children's interest in healthcare careers.

Chapter Project Grant

Rapid City Student Healthcare Outreach Program

Narysse Nicolet · University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Establishing healthcare outreach services in Rapid City, South Dakota, targeting the city's homeless population — 75% of whom identify as Native American. The initiative lays groundwork for a future student-run clinic while providing basic health services to an underserved community.

Chapter Project Grant

CVHS UVMMC Vision Screening Program

Jasmine Bazinet-Phillips · The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont

Addressing transportation barriers affecting pediatric vision care through Champlain Valley Head Start. Uses Uber Health to improve follow-up rates for ophthalmology appointments where only 33% of children under three currently attend follow-up care.

Distinguished Fellow Project Grant Finalists
Fellow Project Grant Finalist

Student-Run Clinic Food Pantry

Neha Basti & Jessica Moreno · Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Establishing a food pantry within a student-run clinic to address food insecurity among patients, integrating nutritional support alongside medical care.

Fellow Project Grant Finalist

MindRight Health Mental Health Coaching

Adaugo Chikezie · University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Implementing culturally responsive digital mental health coaching for underserved young people through the MindRight Health platform.

Fellow Project Grant Finalist

Look at Larner, Next Network MCAT Preparation Program

Karena Nguyen · University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Providing free MCAT preparation resources and mentorship to underrepresented students pursuing medical school admissions.

Distinguished Chapter Project Grant Finalists
Chapter Project Grant Finalist

Period Poverty Initiative

Cayla Wakser · Medical University of South Carolina

Addressing menstrual product access for patients and community members in the Medical University of South Carolina service area.

Chapter Project Grant Finalist

Spanish Language Patient Portal Access

Azziza Bankole · Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Developing resources and support to help Spanish-speaking patients navigate the health system patient portal, improving healthcare access and communication.

Your project could be next

All Aequitas fellows and chapter leaders are eligible to apply for competitive grants. Explore the resources to get started.