UCSF Emerging Health Equity Scholar Award
The Multiethnic Health Equity Research Center (MERC) is excited to announce the fifth annual Emerging Health Equity Scholar Award. This year we are pleased to collaborate with the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education (CTCRE) and the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC).
This year’s awards will recognize UCSF early career investigators who conduct racial and ethnic health equity research including health services, community-engaged, clinical, or translational research. Additional topics of interest are tobacco and commercial determinants of health. Eligible individuals can submit a self-nomination application available here (1-page brief response to questions, NIH Biosketch, and a 1-page abstract of a recently completed research project) by Friday, January 30, 2026, 5pm PST. For submission requirements click here (merc.ucsf.edu/awards).
Each health equity scholar will be invited to deliver a brief research presentation at this year’s in person 2026 "It's About a Billion Lives" Annual Symposium and will receive a small monetary award. The symposium will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 9am - 3pm at UCSF Mission Bay, Robertson Auditorium and will include a keynote speaker, Dr. Andy Tan. The symposium is open to the UCSF community and the public to attend.
More information about award eligibility, application materials, selection criteria, and the Symposium can be found at merc.ucsf.edu
Leah Karliner, MD, MAS Professor of Medicine Director, Multiethnic Health Equity Research Center Director, Center for Aging in Diverse Communities University of California San Francisco | Maria E. Garcia, MD, MPH, MAS Associate Professor of Medicine Co-Director, Multiethnic Health Equity Research Center Co-Director, Implementation Science Program Co-Director, Pre-Heath Undergraduate Program University of California San Francisco |