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Shun Ingram — a doctoral pupil in our Well being Promotion and Prevention Analysis Program — is a recipient of the distinguished Southern Area Academic Board-State Doctoral Students Program Award.
| Shun Ingram — a doctoral pupil within the College of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman Faculty of Public Well being, Well being Promotion and Prevention Analysis Program — has earned the distinguished Southern Area Academic Board-State Doctoral Students Program Award.
“It’s a extremely aggressive scholarship,” he mentioned. “It relieves a few of the monetary burden of being a doctoral pupil. It additionally provides me an opportunity to focus closely on analysis and getting by way of my educational program.”
The annual award goes to a pair of minority college students from the southern United States who’re pursuing a doctorate with plans to develop into a university college member.
The award provides three to 5 years of direct program assist and institutional assist, together with a $20,000 annual stipend. Recipients have entry to a complete of 5 years of tuition by way of the award. Moreover, they obtain skilled improvement assist and funding to attend varied conferences.
“I’m lucky to be within the UAMS Faculty of Public Well being the place I’ve entry to nice alternatives,” Ingram mentioned. “However with the scholarship comes an added stage of assets and other people — on a regional stage — who I can join with.”
Ingram’s curiosity in public well being dates again to his hometown of Palestine, Arkansas, situated in St. Francis County.
As only a junior excessive pupil, Ingram acknowledged how restricted well being care choices could cause points for folks in rural areas.
“Each of my mother and father are educators. So I’ve loved a fairly good life,” he mentioned. “However even after I was younger, I used to be conscious of what was occurring round us relating to well being points. It was eye opening seeing folks in my household, all through my hometown and the encircling areas battle well being issues. One of many points was the hospital that’s nearest to Palestine — in order for you a type of well being care that makes a speciality of a selected job, you’re going to need to journey a good way to get the care.”
Ingram, an alum of the College of Central Arkansas, mentioned the school programs that he has taken have make clear the methods he can assist discover a resolution to inhabitants well being points.
“My curiosity in a public well being profession elevated after I obtained to varsity and took some neighborhood well being programs,” Ingram mentioned. “My ardour for public well being and the advance of well being outcomes has really come alive. I can typically relate on a private stage to what’s being mentioned. As I work on my doctorate, I’m excited to be headed towards a public well being profession the place I could make a distinction.”
Apart from bettering entry to look after Arkansas’ rural residents, biases within the well being trade is one other drawback that Ingram aspires to handle.
“Analysis has confirmed that there are racial variations in well being care,” he mentioned. “Additionally, personally I’ve heard horror tales from people who find themselves Black, similar to I’m, about well being care professionals who both marginalized them or simply didn’t take heed to their health-related complaints. Racism in well being care additionally evokes me to make a distinction.”
Incomes the scholarship is a serious enhance to him reaching these aforementioned targets, which had been birthed within the Delta neighborhood of Palestine.
“The Southern Area Academic Board has a purpose of serving to minorities full their doctorate and land their first college place,” he mentioned. “The group may also assist me develop as a researcher. I’m honored they selected me to be a recipient of this scholarship.”
