GARNER SELECTED FOR CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FELLOWSHIP
William Garner, MPH, doctoral student in health management and policy at UNT Health Science Center, has been selected for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellows Program for 2005-2006.Garner began the fellowship in September. As a fellow, Garner will spend two months in a Congressional office and 10 months working with the House Energy Committee, Subcommittee on Health.
The fellowship program is an educational leadership development program designed for policy professionals. Fellows will not only work on policy development while in Washington, DC, they will also present original research in a policy paper. The purpose of the fellowship is to help address issues involved in health disparities in the United States and abroad.
“Throughout his graduate career at the UNT Health Science Center’s School of Public Health, William has shown dedication to the issue of racial and ethnic disparities in health,” said Kristine Lykens, PhD, assistant professor of health management and policy. “His participation in the fellowship program will benefit our program at the health science center as well as this significant health policy issue.”
Garner is a long-time resident of Fort Worth who graduated with honors from Polytechnic High School. He attended Texas Wesleyan University and graduated from Texas A&M University at Commerce with a bachelor of arts degree in English and general business. He earned a master of public health degree from the health science center. Garner received the American School of Health Association’s 2002 Outstanding Student Paper Award for his master’s thesis.
Garner said his interest in eliminating health disparities for African Americans led him to apply for the fellowship.
“People of color must also be at the table where health policies are drafted,” Garner said. “The Congressional Black Caucus understands this fact.
“Through the Stokes Fellowship, the caucus provides an unmatched opportunity for emerging health policy professionals to apply their knowledge of health policy development in an immediate and meaningful way," Garner said. "I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”
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