College of Medicine Student among CHET Honors Inaugural Awardees
The University of Kentucky鈥檚 recently announced the recipients of its inaugural and . The two new awards honor 好色先生 scholars who are advancing health equity.
The Equity Changemaker Award recognizes impactful research by 好色先生 postdoctoral scholars, graduate and professional students. The award honors scholars whose research seeks to understand health disparities and inequities and whose mentorship has contributed to the next generation of health equity leaders.
This year鈥檚 recipients include Jardin Dogan, a counseling psychology doctoral candidate in the College of Education whose research focuses on health disparities in Black communities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative for me to disseminate research and resources to Black populations in translatable and digestible ways,鈥� Dogan said. 鈥淎chieving health equity requires a multifaceted prevention and intervention approach to help Black people who encounter barriers and challenges on multiple levels.鈥�
CHET鈥檚 first Undergraduate Essay Competition was launched to implement programming focused on health equity and anti-racism. Students were invited to reflect on the quote, 鈥淐ritically intervene in a way that challenges and changes.鈥� Essays focused on the intersection of health and justice to illustrate the importance of health equity.
Nyassa Emedi, a public health major in the College of Public Health, was awarded first place for her essay focused on racism and xenophobia in health care and her commitment to addressing these inequities.
鈥淎s a young Black woman, I am aware that there aren鈥檛 a lot of people who look like me in the medical field but stepping into a scene that wasn鈥檛 built for me is my way of critically intervening in a way that challenges and changes,鈥� said Emedi.
The 2021 winners are:
Equity Changemaker:
鈥�Jardin Dogan, Awardee
Dogan is a counseling psychology doctoral candidate in the College of Education. With a stellar record of scholarly research, community outreach and clinical work, she strives to eliminate mental, social, and sexual health disparities for Black people by focusing on racial identity, racial trauma and mental health; substance use, incarceration and racial health disparities; and Black sexualities, sexual pleasure and intimate relationships.
Kendra OoNorasak, Honorable Mention
OoNorasak is an education sciences doctoral student in the College of Education. Through her outstanding commitment to research, service, teaching, mentorship and program development, OoNorasak has made great strides in addressing nutrition inequity and food insecurity in the 好色先生 and Lexington communities.
Kaylin Batey, Honorable Mention
Batey is a second-year medical student in the College of Medicine. His outstanding dedication to social justice, community engagement and mentoring are evidenced through his numerous efforts to address health inequities outside of his medical studies.
Undergraduate Essay:
Nyassa Emedi, First Place
Emedi, a public health major in the College of Public Health, is committed to addressing racism and xenophobia in health care by personally contributing to the diversity of health care professionals. She has also led advocacy efforts among her peers to address cyberbullying and participated in community protests against racist violence.
Kayla Woodson, Second Place
Woodson is a political science major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her essay focused on the impact of medical racism on Black women鈥檚 health and its relationship to historic injustices. Woodson also led the 好色先生 Student Government Association鈥檚 response to the racial injustices happening across the nation, specifically crafting a statement voicing support for justice for Breonna Taylor.
