Established 2017

Donna Arnett joined the faculty of the UAB School of Public Health in 2004 to lead the department of Epidemiology to national preeminence. Her tireless dedication to excellence brought together a faculty and staff who helped her realize her vision of unparalleled scholarship, education, service, and diversity.

Funds are awarded to doctoral students whose dissertations are judged to be creative, insightful, and opening novel areas of inquiry into human health and disease.

Established 2010

The Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award was established in 2009 to recognize the remarkable career of Dr. Sam Brown. The award honors his unique ability to develop and nurture working relationships between faculty and staff across the UAB campus in ways that embodied the vision, character, and bridge-building talents vital to the future of UAB.

Nominees exhibit sustained unselfish leadership in fostering the growth and/or development of interdisciplinary collaboration between two or more schools in ways that embodies the vision, character, and bridge-building talents vital to the future of UAB.

Established 2014

This award celebrates the leadership and service shown by Dr. Naomi S. Fineberg to the UAB Department of Biostatistics. The award was established to highlight the research accomplishments and potential of students and postdoctoral trainees in the Department of Biostatistics.

Dr. Fineberg joined the Department of Biostatistics in 2004 as a Research Professor after working at the Indiana University Medical School for 27 years. She established and served as the head of the Biostatistics Consulting Center until her retirement. From 2007 to 2010, she led the Department of Biostatistics Journal Club where she helped Biostatistics students critically evaluate and present published research. She served as department chair beginning in 2011 until her retirement in December 2013.

Awards are made to current doctoral and postdoctoral trainees in the Department of Biostatistics who, through their research, have demonstrated the potential to make contributions to the field of biostatistics.

Established 2008

This award pays tribute to Dr. Charles Katholi (1941 – 2024) to honor his longtime service to and support of UAB and the Department of Biostatistics. It was established to encourage excellence in research and scholarly activities among students in the Department of Biostatistics.

Dr. Katholi began his career at UAB in 1970 as an Assistant Professor of Biomathematics. In 1982 he was named Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Biomathematics and in 1995 was appointed Professor of Biostatistics. He served as interim department chair for two years, 1997-1999 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2003. During this time he has consistently demonstrated a sincere love of teaching and commitment to educating students. He is also regarded as a valued mentor and role model to young faculty members.

Established 2007

The Irtaza and Shana Siddique Endowed Award for Academic Excellence in Epidemiology will provide a cash award to graduating students who have demonstrated superior academic performance and knowledge of epidemiology.

Dr. Siddique received his Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in epidemiology from the UAB School of Public Health. He was a professor of microbiology and public health at College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health at Tuskegee University for 44 years. Residents of Auburn, Alabama, Dr. and Mrs. Siddique have made substantial contributions to the field of veterinary medicine and shown exceptional commitment to education and public health as well as exemplary generosity and service.

Established 2013

This award pays tribute to the research and service programs between UAB and Zambia to which Dr. Moses Sinkala was deeply committed. Colleagues, friends, and admirers have come together to create an award in his name. The Moses Sinkala Endowed Memorial Award provides much needed financial assistance to deserving students at The University of Zambia, School of Medicine, who demonstrate an interest in serving the public health needs of Zambia as was a priority for Dr. Sinkala.

Dr. Sinkala was a graduate of the UAB School of Public Health and a leader in policy and research for implementation of healthcare delivery in his beloved country of Zambia. His vision and passion for public health will be deeply missed.

Established 2007

The Lou Wooster Public Health Hero Award is presented annually to recognize individuals, groups, or organizations who are unconventional public health heroes. The award honors Lou Wooster, a 19th century Birmingham madam who risked her life to care for the sick and dying during the 1873 cholera epidemic and who helped ensure the city's survival.

Established 2007

Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center is a non-profit organization, incorporated in 1974. Glenwood provides an array of services which are devoted to supporting and treating children and adults impacted by autism spectrum disorder and children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Services include educational, vocational, diagnostic services, and treatment-based interventions which are based on best practice and dedicated to improving outcomes and the quality of life of every individual served. For over 45 years, Glenwood has been devoted to helping individuals reach their full potential by providing the highest quality services to consumers and families in the state and region.

The Glenwood Endowed Lectureship began in 2005 as a collaboration between Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center and the UAB School of Public Health. The lectureship focuses on the health impacts of, and care responses to, behavioral health disorders such as autism.

Learn more about the Glenwood Endowed Lectureship

Established 2020

This lectureship is established in honor of Dr. Meredith Lamar Kilgore. Meredith received his MSPH from the School of Public Health in 2005 after 25 years of practicing nursing in hospital settings. Upon completing his PhD in California, he was recruited back to the UAB School of Public Health as a faculty member in the department of Health Care Organization and Policy, where he taught how medical decision-making relates to quality of life and treatment options. He served as Chair of the department from 2012-2018.

Established 2007

The Ann Dial McMillan Endowed Lectureship in Family and Child Health is a unique interdisciplinary lectureship designed to tap into and promote public health breakthroughs relevant to family and children's health. Lectures address challenges and innovations in maternal and child health with a special focus on issues that affect everyday life such as nutrition, diabetes, cancer, obesity, substance abuse, and other salient topics. The goal of the lectureship, established by Ann Dial McMillan, is to promote the health of children, their families, and the community as a whole by educating the academic community about new discoveries in family and children's health practices.

Learn more about the Ann Dial McMillan Endowed Lectureship

Established 2011

Dr. Janet L. Norwood was the first woman commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is Past President of the American Statistical Association. She was the Presidential appointment to the Chair of the Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation from 1993-96. From 1979 through 1991, Dr. Norwood was the U.S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, responsible for the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its work in compilation, publication, and interpretation of statistics on employment and unemployment, prices, compensation, industrial relations, productivity, and economic growth. She testified monthly before the Joint Economic Committee and frequently before other Congressional Committees. In recognition of her public service, Dr. Norwood received Distinguished rank in the Senior Executive Service from President Reagan.

The Janet L. Norwood Lecture is delivered each year by the winner of the Janet L. Norwood Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Statistical Sciences. The recipient of the annual award will be an internationally recognized statistician. This lecture not only recognizes Dr. Norwood's many achievements, but also the contributions of many women to the statistical sciences.

Learn more about the Janet L. Norwood Lecture

Established 2006

The Carole W. Samuelson Lecture focuses on public health practice. Past lectures have been on the politics of lead poisoning, the decline of the public health infrastructure, and impacts of public health studies on the general population, to name a few.

Dr. Samuelson was born in 1941 on a tobacco plantation near Greenville, North Carolina and died February 14, 2009. She was a pediatrician and Jefferson County Health Officer from 1985 until her retirement in 2002. She was a 1968 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill and completed her residency in pediatrics at the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Dr. Samuelson joined the Jefferson County Health Department in 1975 as a part-time clinic physician. Within three years she was directing both of the County's primary care clinics. She was promoted to director of the primary care department and then to administrator of the entire health department in 1985.

Learn more about the Carole W. Samuelson Endowed Lectureship

Established 2017

The purpose of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Endowed Chair in Health Economics is to recruit and/or retain an expert faculty member whose focus is on health economics.

Bisakha (Pia) Sen, PhD is the first recipient.

Established 2010

The Sir David Cox Endowed Professorship in Biostatistics is named in honor of Sir David Cox, who profoundly influenced modern statistics and is highly regarded for his expertise in the field. This endowment is awarded to outstanding faculty in the field. Its first recipient is Dr. Nengjun Yi.

"The Sir David Cox professorship has helped me not only continue leading edge research projects for statistical genetics and applied Bayesian methods, but also expand my research to new areas such as precision medicine and metagenomics. Since I received this professorship, my team and I have developed new high-dimensional methods and computer software for predicting various disease outcomes and for analyzing microbiome/ metagenomic data." — Nengjun Yi.

Established 2014

The Antoine Lavoisier Endowed Professorship commemorates the work of Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, which contributed to the understanding of exercise, nutrition, sustainable cities, and public health. It was established to support the advancement of the public health profession and to help create and develop scientific inquiry into energetics and active and healthy living. Dr. Kevin Fontaine is the first recipient of this Professorship.

"This endowment has helped me develop research projects to evaluate the effects of various diets on chronic disease management, including diabetes and cancer. It has also allowed me to pursue my passion for finding new and innovative ways to use the placebo effect to improve the management of pain and fatigue. Finally, it supports my teaching and training of the next generation of public health professionals. " — Kevin Fontaine

Established 2022

This award reaffirms UAB’s institutional commitment to fairness and equity in relation to, and across, intersections of race, age, color, disability, faith, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, social class, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, and all other identities represented among our diverse communities. Funds are used to recruit and/or retain an expert faculty member at the University whose focus is on LGBT studies.

Sarah MacCarthy, ScD is the first recipient.

Learn more about the Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies Endowed Chair.

Established 2012

The Quetelet Endowed Professorship in Public Health pays honor and tribute to Lambert Adolphe Quetelet, a renowned mathematician and scientist noted and famous for the invention of the Body Mass Index (BMI), which remains to this day the official measurement for obesity for adults over the age of 20. Its current recipient is Dr. Sadeep Shrestha.

"The endowment recognizes the continued contribution of my research, teaching, and service. It provides the resources for innovative projects that I have always wanted to initiate but not had the opportunity to do so, it helps pay for a graduate assistant and allows for travel to collaborate with scholars around the world." — Sadeep Shrestha

Established 2008

This fund supports the Department of Biostatistics by providing for the recruitment and/or retention of a faculty member who can further the Department’s mission and make invaluable contributions to advancing the field of biostatistics and affirm the vital role of biostatistics. The current recipient is Dr. Hemant Tiwari.

"The endowment has helped me continue my research projects in multi-omics analyses to understand the mechanism of complex traits. The endowment has led to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and helped me to pay for a PhD student. I also have contributed from the endowment to support high-performance computing infrastructure for omics data sets." — Hemant Tiwari

Established 2014

Friends, colleagues, and admirers of Alfred A. Bartolucci have made generous gifts for the purpose of creating a scholarship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Spendable earnings from the scholarship are used to assist deserving students who are enrolled in the School of Public Health, Biostatistics program at UAB.

Established 2022

The Brouillette Endowed Scholarship provides support for graduate students in the School of Public Health

Established 1999

The Bill and Judy Bridgers Endowed Scholarship was created to honor Dr. William (Bill) Bridgers and his wife Judy for their outstanding service and commitment to public health. Bill was the driving force behind establishing the UAB School of Public Health and served as its founding dean. He devoted his career to improving the lives of all Alabamians and his work on the front lines of health care helped to combat emerging infectious diseases, to make workplaces safer, and to protect the health of the most vulnerable in our society. Judy has demonstrated her strong support of public health issues through her active and tireless volunteer efforts for a variety of health causes, especially the fight against AIDS. Awards are made to students in the School of Public Health.

Established 2004

The Charlotte and Robert E. Lowder Endowed Scholarship was established by the law firm of Sirote and Permutt in recognition of the lifelong commitments of the Lowders to service to country and community. Robert Lowder served his country as a second lieutenant in the Army and served two years active duty. He later served in the Alabama Army National Guard, reaching the rank of captain. Charlotte Lowder served her community as a teacher and also had a successful career in insurance.

This endowment enables countless students to put their financial concerns aside while concentrating fully on their academic pursuits.

Established 2020

The Claude C. Erwin MD Endowed Scholarship was created by Drs. Paul C. Erwin and Renee J. Hyatt in honor of Dr. Claude C. Erwin, MD. Claude grew up with modest means in Talladega, AL, graduated from the University of Alabama, College of Medicine in 1950, and with his wife Mildred Robertson, raised six children while serving the Sand Mountain community in North Alabama as a general practitioner for over 40 years.

This scholarship supports students for whom affordability may be an obstacle and who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Preference will be given to students completing an associate’s degree at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama. Second preference is to students from Randolph, Clay, and Talladega Counties in Alabama.

Established 2023

Dr. David Coombs has made a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Preference shall be given to students accepted to or enrolled in degree-granting programs in the School of Public Health’s Department of Health Behavior who are interested in suicide prevention research.

Established 2007

Donna Lee Rickert was proud of UAB, indeed, she received her BA and MA degrees in psychology from UAB, and received her MPH in epidemiology and DrPH in Maternal-Child Epidemiology from the School of Public Health. Her distinguished career began in 1972 when she joined the staff of UAB as Assistant Director of Program Evaluation for the UAB Regional Drug Abuse Program. After serving in various positions in the private sector, she re-joined the UAB staff in 1991 as an instructor in the Department of Psychology prior to her appointment as Director of the Division of Health Statistics for the Jefferson County Department of Health, Birmingham, Alabama, from 1990 until 1998. In 1998, she was appointed Director of the Maternal and Child Health Division for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control in Columbia, South Carolina, a position she retained until 2000, when she was appointed Lead Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program, Atlanta, Georgia.

The Donna Lee Rickert Endowed Scholarship provides support to students studying Maternal and Child Health within the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy.

Established 2022

Dr. Paul Campbell Erwin and Dr. Renee Joy Hyatt have made a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship in the School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Gifts to award scholarships to students majoring in health behavior.

Established 2005

Dr. Henry Kenneth (Ken) Dillon began his professional career in 1973 at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1982, he joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences. During the 22 years that he worked in the School, he taught courses in environmental chemistry, air sampling and analysis, as well as others. Dr. Dillon was well aware of the financial struggle students face while in graduate school. This scholarship was endowed in his memory, to provide support to Department of Environmental Health Sciences students for generations to come in memory of his love of teaching.

Established 2007

Herman F. Lehman, Jr., DDS, MPH, was the school's first assistant dean. He taught epidemiology courses to public health, medical, dental, optometry and nursing students. His impact on our School was enormous. Former students recall his knowledge, wit, good-humor, folksy way of speaking, great stories and the way he could make even complicated ideas seem simple. Dr. Lehman retired from UAB in 1992 and passed away in 1995. Even so, his legacy is still very much a part of the School. The Herman Lehman Jr. Endowed Scholarship provides support to residents of the State of Alabama.

Established 2000

In 2017, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation approved a gift to provide expendable scholarships for first generation students in the School of Public Health. Preference for scholarships to be awarded to students who intend to permanently reside in the United States after completion of their studies.

SPONSORED SCHOLARS

In conjunction with the UAB School of Public Health, the Alabama Public Health Association has made available the Ira L. Myers Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to honor Ira L. Meyers, former Alabama State Health Officer, for his 40 years of dedicated service to the citizens of the State of Alabama. Funded by AlPHA and the UAB School of Public Health, the scholarship supports one masters or doctoral candidate for approximate two years of part-time study at the UAB School of Public Health who are members of the AlPHA. The scholarship is not intended to cover all cost related in the graduate experience. Special consideration is given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Established 2007

The Irtaza and Shana Siddique Scholarship Endowed Award was established in 2007. Dr. Siddique received his Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in epidemiology from the UAB School of Public Health. He served for 44 years as a professor of microbiology and public health at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health at Tuskegee University. Residents of Auburn, Alabama, Dr. and Mrs. Siddique have made substantial contributions to the field of veterinary medicine and shown exceptional commitment to education and public health as well as exemplary generosity and service. Special consideration is given to a student with demonstrated financial need.

Established 2005

Isaac E. Capilouto was the son of immigrants to this country and was a dentist in Montgomery, Alabama. He instilled in his family the importance of hard work, the pursuit of knowledge, and the importance of giving back to the community. This scholarship is awarded to international students and serves as a testament to Isaac Capilouto's hard work and dedication to his family and community. He continues to make a difference through the students who receive this award and go forth to serve the health and safety of the citizens of the world.

Established 2023

This scholarship was created generously by Dr. Joel Dobbs to support students interested in pursuing careers in Pharmacoepidemiology.

Established 2011

As Director of the John J. Sparkman Center for International Public Health, and later Dean of the School of Public Health, Dr. Juan M. Navia worked with faculty at UAB and other universities to establish training programs in Public Health at universities in developing countries, most notably Colombia, Jamaica, Peru, and Thailand. He was recipient of the Senior International Fogarty Fellowship Award 1979; H. Trendly Dean, IADR and UAB Distinguished Faculty Lecturer awards in 1990, UAB 1992 President's Medal, and Hispanic Dental Association 1995 Presidential Award for Leadership. After retirement, he was recognized as Fellow of the American Institute of Nutrition, presented with an Honorary Degree of Doctor in Dental Science at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, and 2007 Global Citizen Award in Recognition of Leadership and Academic Excellence in International Health Education.

Family, friends, and admirers of Dr. Navia, second dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, are making generous donations for the purpose of creating an endowed scholarship in public health. Spendable earnings from the Juan M. Navia Endowed Scholarship in Public Health will be used to assist deserving students who are enrolled in the School of Public Health at UAB.

Students must demonstrate a commitment to the international aspects of public health as was a priority of Dr. Navia. Preference will be given to first year Master of Public Health (MPH) students

Established 2000

The Kathleen Ellis Ryals Scholarship was established in 2000 by Dr. Jarvis D. Ryals to honor his mother and provide support to deserving students in the UAB School of Public Health. Dr. Ryals had previously honored his mother and father by donating funds towards the construction of the School’s building which is named for them. Mrs. Ryals was born and raised in south Alabama. She attended the Livingston Normal School for Teachers and taught in the state for 10 years. Mrs. Ryals' quiet and gentle life made a tremendous impact on all her knew her. Her legacy of giving and caring continues to live on through the public health students who receive this scholarship that bears her name.

Established 2023

This scholarship was founded by Dr. Charles (1941 – 2024) and Ann Katholi in 2023. It was established to assist promising students to pursue graduate education in Biostatistics. The award acknowledges the legacy of Dr. Katholi who was an exceptional educator, researcher and mentor throughout his career at UAB. Dr. Katholi began his career at UAB in 1970 as an Assistant Professor of Biomathematics. In 1982 he was named Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Biomathematics and in 1995 was appointed Professor of Biostatistics. He served as interim department chair for two years, 1997-1999 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2003.

Give Now

Established 2016

The Max Michael First Generation Endowed Scholarship was founded by Marian and Mark Wilson to honor their friend and mentor. When Dr. Wilson was hired by Dr. Michael as an internist at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital in 1991, he found a kindred spirit who helped fulfill his dream of practicing medicine within an underprivileged and underserved community. Dr. Michael went on to serve as dean of the UAB School of Public Health from 2000-2017. The Max Michael First Generation Endowed Scholarship supports students who are the first members of their families to attend college.

Established 2017

During the fall of 2013, the School of Public Health launched a new undergraduate major in public health with 42 students. After its launch, the undergraduate major in public health became the fastest growing undergraduate program at UAB. The vision and tireless work of retired associate dean of academics, Melissa Galvin, PhD, were instrumental in establishing this new degree. These gifts help provide a fitting legacy to this outstanding leader and empower aspiring undergraduate students to pursue public health studies.

Established 1990

The Public Health Education Scholarship Endowment funds scholarships and fellowships to assist students enrolled in the School of Public Health.

Established 2019

Through this scholarship funds are awarded to degree-seeking students who have an interest in finding innovative solutions to public health problems.

Established 2019

Ronald Grantland is a former Alumnus of the Year for the School of Public Health, had an exemplary career with the Alabama Department of Public Health and served in the Alabama State Legislature.  Ronald established this scholarship as a means to give back to the school which had a significant impact on his career and life. Awards are made to degree-seeking students in the School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology.

Established 2022

Robert Ginter was a 30 year veteran of the United States Air Force and served with honor during World War II, the Korean War, and in Vietnam. In addition to his service to country, he was active and involved in community activities in Panama City, Florida where he was a longtime resident. The Robert and Frances Ginter Endowed Scholarship for Students in Health Care Organization and Policy provides support to Department of Health Care Organization and Policy students.

Established 2020

Ronald Grantland has made a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship in the School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The Fund shall provide support to students accepted to or enrolled in degree-granting programs within in the SOPH Department of Epidemiology for whom affordability may be an obstacle and who might otherwise be unable to attend the University and also will consider the merit of the students.

Established 2023

This scholarship was created generously by Dr. Sandra Seitz to support students in the Department of Epidemiology interested in pursuing careers in the Infectious Disease space.

Established 2010

The School of Public Health Endowed Scholarship in Epidemiology was created by Dr. Donna Arnett, faculty, alumni, and friends of the Department of Epidemiology to aid in the support of deserving epidemiology students.

Established 2011

Dr. H. Michael Maetz established this fund to provide tuition support for public health practitioners who temporarily leave their positions to pursue a master’s degree in one of the public health disciplines. Dr. Maetz joined the faculty of the Department of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1976. He served many vital leadership roles in the School of Public Health: Chairman of the Faculty, Vice-Chair and Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Established 2023

Shannon H.S. House has made a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The Fund shall provide support to students for whom affordability may be an obstacle and who might otherwise be unable to attend the University and also will consider the merit of the students. Preference shall be given to international students pursuing a graduate degree at the School of Public Health.

Established 2001

The Honorable H.L. "Sonny" Callahan served over 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Alabama's First District (Baldwin, Clarke, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties). Among many outstanding accomplishments, he served as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations and chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. Prior to his service as a U.S. Congressman, he served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy and the state of Alabama as a Senator in the Alabama State Legislature. After more than 30 years of state and federal service, the Honorable Mr. Callahan retired from federal service in 2002.

Special consideration is given to those award applicants whose background experience indicates a desire to be an effective citizen by participation and leadership in extracurricular and/or community activities.

Established 2021

Kelley Swatzell, Dr.P.H., and John W. Waterbor, M.D., Dr.P.H. has made a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The Fund shall provide support to students for whom affordability may be an obstacle and who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Preference shall be given to students from underserved areas in Alabama or the Southeast; and students whose career intentions are to reduce health disparities in perinatal or cancer outcomes in these underserved areas. Secondary preference shall be given to students enrolled in dual degree programs at the University, to include the M.P.H. in combination with a graduate degree from the UAB Physician Assistant, Nursing, Social Work, Dentistry, Optometry, Medicine, or other health professional program.

Established 2009

Billy Cox grew up in Bessemer, Alabama. He was vice-president of his high school senior class and went on to earn a business degree. He contracted AIDS in the early 1990s. In 1994, during the final six months of his life, he candidly shared his story in a series of articles that appeared in the Birmingham News. The Billy R. Cox Endowed Scholarship was established by friends and admirers to aid in the support of public health students who demonstrate an interest in public health issues for the gay, lesbian, bi and trans-gender populations.

Established 2016

Theresa A. Habshey made a generous gift for the purpose of creating a scholarship at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Spendable earnings from the scholarship will be used to assist deserving students who are enrolled in the graduate program in the School of Public Health at UAB.

“Addressing public health issues can provide specific and practical solutions to many of the problems facing a world where, increasingly, what happens locally is no longer just local.” So says the first administrator of UAB School of Public Health and the woman behind the new Theresa A. Habshey Endowed Scholarship in Public Health. The funding will benefit students in the master or doctoral programs, based on financial need.

“I believe that the various disciplines in public health have many overlapping concerns,” she continues. “We need talented, dedicated, and educated people in these fields. Providing some assistance to our public health students is another way for me to give back through their work and accomplishments.”

Established 1998

In 1978, Dr. Vernon Rose joined the fledgling UAB School of Public Health. He was instrumental in founding the Deep South Center for Occupational Safety and Health and served as its first director. Under his leadership as both department chair for environmental health sciences and center director, he put together a team of faculty and staff who worked with him to create one of the premiere industrial hygiene and occupational health and safety programs in the nation. Upon Dr. Rose's retirement from UAB in 1998, alumni, colleagues, and friends established the School's first named scholarship in his honor.

The Vernon E. Rose Endowed Scholarship provides support to students enrolled in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences’ Industrial Hygiene Program.

This money is to be used at the discretion of the SOPH Dean for furthering the mission of the School wherever the need is greatest.

THE UAB Center for the Study of Community Health, a University Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center, has adopted specific aims to:

1. provide a University platform for community-based participatory research (CBPR);
2. engage stakeholders via education and service;
3. pursue research that enhances community health; and
4. facilitate the translation of evidence-based programs into practice.

These funds will be used to support its objectives.

Established 2005

This fund supports the School of Public Health’s Environmental Health Sciences teaching laboratory.

To be used to further the mission of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences through education, research, and service.  

Funds will be used to cover any costs to implement experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate or graduate students at the School of Public Health. This includes out-of-the-classroom learning activities which support academic objectives such as field trips, service learning projects, hands-on field projects, and travel courses or other opportunities that support public health practice.

Funds will be used to cover any costs to implement experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate or graduate students at the School of Public Health. This includes out-of-the-classroom learning activities which support academic objectives such as field trips, service learning projects, hands-on field projects, and travel courses or other opportunities as approved by the dean that support public health practice.

General gifts to the department of health behavior.

To be used for education, research, scholarly practice, and collaboration to further the mission of engaging in public health policy.  

Established 2012

These funds help create and develop scientific inquiry into energetics and active, healthy living through the support of research into complex, interdisciplinary problems through specially tailored programs that meet the most rigorous scientific standards, to promote new and exciting projects and identify preliminary data, and to leverage student and post-doctoral fellow funding and fellowships from other resources.

Established 1984

International educational experiences often change the worldview of students and promote the notion of global citizenship. Funds donated to this account will be exclusively used towards supporting UAB students completing an approved international experience. Internships, research projects, and public health practice opportunities all qualify.

The goal of the Office of Public Health Practice (OPHP) is to increase and enhance engagement between public health community stakeholders and School of Public Health faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The OPHP connects community-based organizations to resources within the SOPH and provides public health practice opportunities to SOPH faculty, staff, and students.

Birmingham ranks 148 of 150 cities in the level of childhood poverty. Breaking the cycle of poverty requires a radical shift in our thinking and a multidisciplinary team of scholars. The Initiative for the Prevention of Child Poverty will give home to the scholars, advocates, and the wounded children to understand how best to buffer the impacts of poverty across the lifespan.

The School of Public Health PhD Student Fund in Epidemiology was created by Dr. Nicole Wright of the Department of Epidemiology to aid in the support PhD student activities. 

Funds will be used to support public health education infrastructure, including creating student-focused, innovative academic environments, and classrooms conducive to small group assignments.

Established 1993

The UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health seeks to promote the idea of global citizenship beyond the UAB campus. Contributions made to this account will support a variety of initiatives, including but not limited to: Global Health Case Competitions, Sparkman Scholars, Sparkman Fellows, Sparkman Community Partners, and the Global Health Lecture Series.

SparkEd is an innovative software package for organization and delivery of educational content for use in areas with no internet and restricted access to textbooks or library resources. This software was developed collaboratively by programmers in Zambia and Ethiopia and has been used to deliver a Nurse Anesthetist training program in Kenya and the full secondary school curriculum (grades 9 through 12) in Ethiopia. As the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia adapts this approach it has the possibility of impacting students in 3800 high schools in the country averaging 1000 students per school. Agreements are now in place for digitizing the content down to grade 5r. The software is being developed as an open-source product that is available to anyone for digitization and delivery of educational content from central servers, tablets, or mobile devices. 

International educational experiences often change the worldview of students and promote the notion of global citizenship. Funds donated to this account will be exclusively used towards supporting UAB students completing an approved international experience. Internships, research projects, and public health practice opportunities all qualify.

Funds donated to this account will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a new UAB initiative to support student international experiences!

For general support of the mission and vision of the School of Public Health.

Many times our students face personal emergencies and are in need of some assistance. This fund is to provide student support based on financial need.