Michigan Health Equity Challenge announces winners of second annual competition
Three student-led proposals addressing rural healthcare access, Parkinson’s disease care, and water quality monitoring have emerged as winners in the University of Michigan’s Michigan Health Equity Challenge.
The challenge, established in 2023, is supported by Molina Healthcare of Michigan and pairs graduate students from all three University of Michigan campuses with community-based organizations to develop solutions addressing health disparities throughout Michigan. Each winning team’s partner organization will receive a $50,000 implementation grant.
“We are thankful to Molina for their partnership and generous support to be able to host this challenge for the second year in a row,” said Cathy Killaly, lecturer in the Department of Health Management and Policy and executive director of the Griffith Leadership Center at the School of Public Health. “We are so inspired by all of the finalists, who have combined their energy, creativity and innovative thinking to devise solutions to health equity challenges in a variety of communities.”
Challenge winners
Water Quality Monitoring
Grace Feichter & Guiliana Motta from the University of Michigan School of Public Health will launch "Beyond the Tap" with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC). The initiative addresses how a history of racially discriminatory housing policies has concentrated Black and Hispanic residents in areas with older housing stock and aging infrastructure, leading to poor water quality and exposure to contaminants like lead. Building upon DHDC's existing Promotoras de la Tierra (Promoters of the Earth) program, they will establish the Promotoras de Agua (Promoters of the Water) program, which will engage 150 households in Southwest Detroit in water testing and filter installation while equipping community members with tools and knowledge to advocate for equitable water policies.
Rural Healthcare Access
Emily Lin & Sarah Canlas from the University of Michigan School of Information will partner with the Michigan Center for Rural Health to develop a model to streamline health and wellness services at the Roscommon County Commission on Aging senior center. Key activities include community needs assessment, participatory design research, in-person usability studies for telehealth solutions, physical space assessment, and stakeholder coordination to develop an implementation roadmap for expanding healthcare access for the rural aging population.
Parkinson's Disease Care
Nia Ahart & Zoe Humes from the University of Michigan-Flint will work with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation to expand diversity in Parkinson's disease care. Their "Move to Represent" initiative addresses the fact that Parkinson's disease affects nearly one million people in the US, including 35,000 in Michigan. The project will train 10 physical and occupational therapy professionals of color to implement PWR!Moves, an evidence-based PD-specific functional exercise and physical therapy program. By increasing the number of exercise providers of color, the initiative aims to help individuals receive care from providers who understand and represent their communities, fostering trust and increasing participation in life-changing exercise programs.
Additional finalists
This year’s competition saw 59 proposals submitted for the challenge, with 14 teams selected as finalists. Students from the team finalists received stipends and eight weeks of policy/program mentorship to further their proposal’s development and implementation.
The remaining finalists and their approaches to health equity solutions include:
- Aiza Bustos & Andrea Gonzales Jimenez (University of Michigan Medical School, School of Public Health): Improving access to postpartum doula services for Latina mothers in Southwest Detroit
- Elizabeth Delgado & Nia Lucas (University of Michigan Medical School): Developing a nutrition curriculum to prevent cardiovascular disease among migrant farmworkers in Lenawee County
- Bianca Freeman & Vivian Li (School of Information): Enhancing digital health literacy for formerly incarcerated populations in Wayne County
- Kelly Gilbert (School of Nursing): Collaborating with local partners to develop a Washtenaw County food hub expanding access to healthy, local foods
- Reya Nashef (University of Michigan-Dearborn): Providing culturally tailored teletherapy and trauma-informed care for underserved immigrant communities
- Lauren Pettinga & Irene Wei (Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning): Creating a digital resource guide for Traumatic Brain Injury patients and caregivers
- Elizabeth Randolph & Jennylee Swallow (University of Michigan Medical School): Developing a maternal health resource toolkit for individuals with sickle cell disease
- Aja Sharma & Lina Abu Taweeleh (University of Michigan Medical School): Implementing electronic consultation between University of Michigan Health and Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Olubukola Adenike Tikare (College of Pharmacy): Improving breast cancer screening through community health worker intervention
- Manikandan Pandiyan (College of Engineering): Developing biochar-based water filtration systems at U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Yijun Zou (School of Public Health): Implementing a "food as medicine" prescription system and community-led food entrepreneur incubator
For detailed project summaries of all finalists, visit the Michigan Health Equity Challenge blog.
The Michigan Health Equity Challenge, managed by the Department of Health Management and Policy's Griffith Leadership Center, exemplifies the school’s commitment to fostering collaborative approaches to health equity through student-led innovation and community partnerships.
Lead photo: (Left to right) Terrisca Des Jardins, Giuliana Motta, Emily Lin, Sarah Canlas, Nia Ahart, Zoey Humes, and Cathy Killaly pose for a photo during the Michigan Health Equity Challenge reception on April 18, 2025. Photo credit: Brian Lillie.
Media Contact
Destiny Cook
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