Foster Memorial Scholarship

2008 Recipients

Rebecca Bressman, is second-time Foster Scholar currently pursuing an MPH at Oregon Health & Science University where she is a student in the health disparities track of public health. As a Native American tribal member, she is particularly interested in health disparities in Native American Communities. Her mission is to work to reverse the trend whereby "...as Native Americans become 'Americanized', their health outcomes deteriorate." She is committed to improving access to health care and providing health education to Native Americans to prevent endemic community health problems.

Catherine Gonzalez-Maddux, is a first-time Foster Scholar recipient pursuing an MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics at Oregon Health & Science University with a focus on international and minority health. Currently she volunteers with Hands On Greater Portland, a local chapter of a national organization that functions as a broker between local non-profit organizations that need volunteer support. Upon completion of her MPH in June 2009, Catherine wants to research the growing diverse populations of Oregon, Washington and California. Ultimately, she hopes to collaborate with policymakers and translate research findings into practical social programs and health policy that will benefit the community.

Patrick Hudson, another first-time Foster Scholar, aspires to be a public health physician who will apply his public health training to clinical practice, and possibly, continue his academic studies to pursue a Ph.D. in public health. At present, he is enrolled in the MPH program at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and plans to attend medical school after graduation from the program. He is interested in practicing in a rural setting and keenly aware of the impact poverty has on health outcomes.

Jacqui Martin, has been awarded a Foster Scholarship four times. She currently works as a bilingual nurse for Washington County Health Department while also completing her master's in nursing from Oregon Health & Science University so that she can become a family nurse practitioner. Her public health experience includes volunteering in Guatemala, community health fairs and working at Planned Parenthood. Throughout her academic career she has focused attention on the sexual health needs of adolescents and hopes to open her own teen health clinic upon completion of her degree in June 2009.

Lindsey Reynolds, is a three-time Foster Scholar currently working on her Ph.D. in the International Health program at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Born and raised in Eugene, OR, Lindsey's passion for HIV prevention has taken her to the far corners of the world. She founded a non-profit organization to support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa and conducted research on the health effects of a large-scale oil development project in Chad. As a professor and public health researcher, Lindsey wants to explore how international health policies are created and what the implications of public health interventions and globalized development agendas are on populations.