Department of Public Health Sciences Announces New Resiliency Scholarship

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences is proud to announce its new Resiliency Scholarship for a graduate student who is pursuing a 45-credit Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Public Health in summer or fall 2021.

The purpose of the full-tuition scholarship—valued at $97,650—is to foster innovative thinking in public health research and practice, as well as support resilient M.P.H. and M.S.P.H. students in their efforts to address community or global public health issues through their graduate studies.

“Some of the most successful alumni who joined our training program came to us after encountering and overcoming substantial life challenges,” said David J. Lee, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. “This new scholarship program will enable us to offer training opportunities to students who might not otherwise be able to attend the University of Miami. We look forward to the many contributions they will eventually make toward addressing pressing public health problems.”

The M.P.H. degree is a professional degree for students who require a broad general academic experience in public health. Students will acquire competency in the fundamental public health disciplines, including research design and conduct, data analysis and policy analysis, communications, program planning and administration, public health systems and the organization of health services in the United States and Latin America, recognition and analysis of ethical issues in public health and professional practice, the needs of special populations, and the integration of these core disciplines in public health decision making.

The M.S.P.H. is an academic research degree designed for students who wish to prepare for further study at the doctoral level or to prepare for research or technical positions in government, industry, academia, or private institutions. Studies will include many of the core disciplines included in the M.P.H. degree with an additional emphasis on advanced research methods and quantitative analysis skills.

It is a public health duty to promote and create opportunities, such as the Resiliency Scholarship, for students to begin these programs to address critical health disparities.

“As public health leaders, we have dedicated our professional and academic lives to the concept that each individual is entitled to an equal opportunity at prevailing in the face of challenges, conquering adversity, and the ability to create a better world for themselves and also for society as a whole,” said Margie Jimenez, M.A., C.R.A., who is the department’s assistant chair. “The Resiliency Scholarship will provide an opportunity to recognize the strength and perseverance of individuals who have come out stronger despite facing such challenges.”

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Recipients will be full-time M.P.H. and M.S.P.H. students who are to complete a 45-credit degree within one to two years.
• Applicants will be accepted and matriculate in the summer 2021 or fall 2021 semesters.
• Preference will be given to students who have faced serious life challenges and overcame them. Questions on both the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) and the Resiliency Scholarship application, an essay, and an interview will help to inform the selection. The scholarship recipient will have made clear their interest in the power of personal resilience and how their unique life circumstances have informed their educational and career aspirations.

Applicants must submit an application through SOPHAS by the scholarship deadline, which is March 1 for summer and fall. The SOPHAS application must include official transcripts, a personal statement, a CV or resume, and three letters of recommendations.

Once a student has received and accepted an admission offer, the student will be sent the Resiliency Scholarship Application by email. Students must complete a 1,000-word essay discussing the serious life challenge or challenges and the ways in which they overcame them. In the essay, the applicant should describe their emergent resilience tools and practices and how their experience can inform public health policies and interventions that can impact population health.

The Scholarship Committee in the department will review all eligible applications and will choose applicants to be interviewed. Each selected applicant will participate in a virtual interview conducted by the department’s Scholarship Committee to determine motivation and fit.

“Over the years, we have seen applicants that are facing extraordinary hardship or have overcome adversities, but are resilient,” said Viviana Horigian, M.D., M.H.A., professor in the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences. “With this scholarship we hope to support individuals with such challenges to achieve their aspiration of pursuing a Master of Public Health or a Master of Science in Public Health degree at UM.”

Published on January 22, 2021

Written by Amanda Torres