Celebrating the 2020-2021 CDPHP Scholars

Since 2016, CDPHP^® The Foundation has been investing in the public health leaders of the future. That is the year the Foundation started offering academic scholarships to students enrolled in the School of Public Health at the University at Albany. The Foundation’s multi-year commitment will provide nearly a quarter million dollars to help deserving students pursue their educational and career goals. 

Scholarship recipients must demonstrate academic achievement and be pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Science (MS) degree through UAlbany’s Department of Health Policy and Management or Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The students chosen must also have demonstrated an interest in health administration, health promotion or epidemiology. Thus far, 19 students have benefited from the CDPHP Scholars program, many of whom would not have been able to afford graduate education without funding assistance.

The 10 CDPHP Scholars named in 2020-2021 have a wide variety of interests, including genetic epidemiology,  environmental health, maternal/child health, pharmacoepidemiology, social/behavioral aspects of health, preventive health, and health advocacy, both in the U.S. and globally.  For Dr. John Bennett, CDPHP President and CEO, one of the most rewarding aspects of the scholarship program is the opportunity to connect personally with the students, exploring their specific interests and aspirations and learning about the impact of the funding support over a cup of coffee or meal, or at the graduation dinner hosted by the university.  “When I talk with these scholars,” he said, “I am always impressed with their passion and commitment to building healthier communities, and it makes me optimistic about the future of health care.