2025–26 Grant Recipients Announced

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Aequitas Health is pleased to announce the winners of its 2025–26 grants and awards, supporting innovative initiatives to advance health equity across the United States by medical students and local Aequitas Health chapters. A total of $1,500 was awarded across three categories, including the new Chapter Project of the Year Award.

Chapter Project of the Year Award

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 Winner

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 Winner

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 Finalists

Chapter Project Grant Finalists

Caroline Madigan (Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University) — ICC Vaccine/Screening Program Expansion

Aayush Gupta (Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University) — Chicago Street Medicine for Homeless Care

Hannah DeHoogh-Kliewer (University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine) — Winter Supply Drive for Midwest Street Medicine

Fellow Project Grant Finalists

Kayla Talebi (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) — Mini Medical School Take-Home Curriculum Expansion

Kristina Nguyen (Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University) — Chicago Street Medicine Chapter Development

Tommi Tsao & Aroosha Aamir (Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University) — Health Equity Course Community Member Research

Project summaries will be published in the Aequitas Health Journal, showcasing these innovative approaches to addressing healthcare disparities.