Funded by Aequitas.
Built by fellows.
Funding what fellows build — competitive grants supporting student-led community health projects across the country.
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.
2025–26 Grant & Award Recipients
Full press release →ICC Skin Equity Initiative
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.
COPE Medication Adherence Project — Medication Support Toolkit
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.
Menstrual Equity at Nuvance Health
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.
ICC Vaccine/Screening Program Expansion
Expanding vaccination and preventive screening services at the Interprofessional Community Clinic to increase access for underserved populations in North Chicago.
Chicago Street Medicine for Homeless Care
Delivering medical care directly to individuals experiencing homelessness through street medicine outreach in the Chicago area.
Winter Supply Drive for Midwest Street Medicine
Organizing essential winter supply distribution for street medicine patients in the Midwest, providing cold-weather gear alongside basic healthcare services.
Mini Medical School Take-Home Curriculum Expansion
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.
Chicago Street Medicine Chapter Development
Building organizational infrastructure for a sustainable street medicine program in Chicago, including volunteer coordination and community partnerships.
Health Equity Course Community Member Research
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
Full press release →FutureCare Directions: Empowering Patient Choices at Anderson Free Clinic
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.
Mini-Medical School Family Engagement Program
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.
Rapid City Student Healthcare Outreach Program
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.
CVHS UVMMC Vision Screening Program
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.
Student-Run Clinic Food Pantry
Establishing a food pantry within a student-run clinic to address food insecurity among patients, integrating nutritional support alongside medical care.
MindRight Health Mental Health Coaching
Implementing culturally responsive digital mental health coaching for underserved young people through the MindRight Health platform.
Look at Larner, Next Network MCAT Preparation Program
Providing free MCAT preparation resources and mentorship to underrepresented students pursuing medical school admissions.
Period Poverty Initiative
Addressing menstrual product access for patients and community members in the Medical University of South Carolina service area.
Spanish Language Patient Portal Access
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.