Doctoral Student Receives Fellowship to Attend National Conference

Sarah Chavez, MPH, a doctoral student in the Department of Health Outcomes and Policy, received a graduate student fellowship to attend the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education National Conference in March 2015.

“I’m excited by this opportunity to network with fellow graduate students and to explore their varied research interests,” said Chavez, who was one of only 12 students selected nationwide for a fellowship. “I also hope to meet Hispanic researchers and administrators who are further along in their careers to see how they started their research projects and how they became successful researchers.”

Chavez plans on presenting about the expansion of Medicaid eligibility in Texas, building on her two courses this semester, which have both focused on study design.

“The courses I’ve taken this semester have focused on crafting a research question and presentations, so I feel well prepared to go to the conference,” said Chavez, who is currently enrolled in Research Designs in Health Outcomes & Policy with Stephanie Staras, Ph.D., MSPH, assistant professor, and Health Outcomes Research, Program Evaluation, and Implementation Science with Sarah Lynne-Landsman, Ph.D., assistant professor. “I look forward to gaining new perspectives on my research at the beginning of my doctoral studies to help me at the outset of my career.”

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Conference, entitled “The Decade Ahead: Inquire, Innovate, Impact,” is a three-day conference that includes workshops on diversity in higher education, career preparation events, receptions and presentations.

“This is the perfect venue for an emerging scholar to practice presentation and networking skills,” said Mildred Maldonado-Molina, Ph.D., associate professor, who is also Chavez’s mentor. “Sarah will represent the Department of Health Outcomes and Policy well at this national conference. We are very proud of her selection from a national pool of well qualified candidates.”