Student Leaders in Public Health

Welcome!

During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center (RMPHTC) will award up to 27 students in higher education $3,500 in financial support to assist with public health focused field placements and faculty-student collaborative projects. 

The goal of this program is to increase the supply and diversity of the public health workforce in the Rocky Mountain Region, specifically in underserved communities and populations by supporting students conducting applied public health projects and providing opportunities for mentoring and professional development. This program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

RMPHTC encourages applications from students proposing field placements working with medically underserved/rural/tribal areas or populations.

All eligible applications will be reviewed by the Student Leaders in Public Health Review Committee.  The SLPH Review Committee is made up of RMPHTC staff, faculty members and community public health practitioners.

  • Student must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen U.S. national, or foreign national possessing a visa permitting permanent residence in the U.S..
  • International students are not eligible for this federal funding opportunity.
  • Student must be enrolled in a higher education program in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota or South Dakota (Rocky Mountain Region). Qualifying programs include university, college, tribal college, and community college. If enrolled in a 4-year undergraduate program, student must be a junior or senior.
  • Student must complete the public health focused project within the Rocky Mountain Region.
  • Priority will be given to projects addressing rural, medically underserved, and/or disadvantaged communities.
  • Projects must involve at least 200 hours of effort and be substantially completed by June 30, 2026.
  • Deliverables: The student will be required to complete two deliverables (paper/poster and abstract) describing the project and its impact. An optional presentation will be offered as well.

Each student will receive $3,500.00 that may be used to offset the costs of travel to the host site, living expenses or project-related costs. The stipend will be provided in two payments. The first payment of $3,000 will be disbursed after the recipient has submitted an acceptable learning plan and documentation of approval of the project by the host organization and higher education institution. The second payment of $500 will be provided upon submission of the final deliverables.

Application deadlines are October 1, 2025 and December 15, 2025. If all positions are not filled, another application deadline will be in February 2026.

Best way to prepare for the application? Identify a host site, a mentor and discuss your public health project details. You are invited to attend an information session or contact Olivia Jolly for more information.

Email: Olivia.Jolly@CUAnschutz.edu

Application Link: Student Leaders in Public Health Online Application for 2025-26

2025-26 SLPH Review Committee Members

  • Sandra Melstad, PhD, MPH – Public Health Consultant, SLM Consulting (located in South Dakota)
  • Tyler Shirey – Director of Finance, Trailhead Institute (located in Colorado)
  • Lauren Small Rodriguez, MPH – Executive Director, Calling our Spirits Forward (located in Montana)
  • Beth Stewart, MPH – Senior Project Coordinator, RMPHTC (located in Wyoming)
  • Jim Vanderslice, PhD – Division Chief, Division of Public Health, University of Utah
  • Christina Yebuah, MPH/MPA – Public Health Consultant (recent CO experience: CDPHE and CCLP)
  • Olivia Jolly, MPH – Manager of Practice Based Learning and the Student Leaders in Public Health Program, RMPHTC

 

Need More Info?

Christina Yebuah, MPH/MPA, provides an overview of why she supports the Student Leaders in Public Health program through RM-PHTC.

 

Efren Garcia (MPH student and SLPH 2022-23 recipient) discusses the financial support of the SLPH program.

Christina Yebuah, MPH/MPH, provides advice for students preparing to complete the SLPH application.

Information Sessions

Attend an information session to learn more and ask questions!
Students, advisors, staff, and potential mentors/preceptors are all invited to attend.

Wednesdays from 12 – 1pm MST, starting in September 2025.

Click to Connect Here via Zoom

Resources

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31683