2022 Recipients

Graduate recipients

Kevin Albert

Kevin Albert

Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Kevin Albert, an Indiana University Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate from Brownsburg, Indiana, is dedicated to public service and serving his community, state, and nation. For eight years, Kevin has been a soldier in the Indiana Army National Guard where he has conducted missions ranging from training exercises in Japan to responding to COVID-19 in Indiana.

Alejandro Bolivar

Alejandro Bolivar

School of Medicine

Alejandro Bolivar, an Indiana University School of Medicine graduate from Venezuela, is dedicated to overcoming discrimination and inequities often present in the health care system. He has focused his work on the Latinx and other underserved communities while serving as the Clinic Manager at the IU Student Outreach Clinic, the cofounder of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, and the What Does It Mean to be Latinx? Project. Alejandro states that he is an amalgam of his family, friends, colleagues, and patients that he has interacted with in the past and strives to fight for their well-being and that of everyone else.

Sean Buehler

Sean Buehler

School of Medicine

Sean Buehler, a Indiana University School of Medicine graduate from Carmel, Indiana, is dedicated to improving the lives of marginalized and impoverished patients, especially the homeless. For three years, Sean served on the Board of Directors of Beacon Bloomington’s most extensive poverty service organization, and helped start and eventually directed the Monroe County Isolation Shelter, which provided a safe and dignified COVID isolation location for South Central Indiana’s most vulnerable community members.

Michael Harding

Michael Harding

School of Medicine

Michael Harding, an Indiana University School of Medicine graduate from Tampa, Florida, is dedicated to addressing healthcare system reform, social inequities and increasing diversity in medicine. Michael has founded and serves as Chair for the Indiana State Medical Association Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion aimed at addressing healthcare disparities and increasing diversity. He established Walk with a Future Doc chapter in South Bend to promote healthy lifestyle habits in the community.

Sara Hindi

Sara Hindi

Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Sara Hindi, an Indiana University Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate from Indianapolis, Indiana, is dedicated to ensuring that Indiana is an inclusive and welcoming state for everyone. Previously, she had served the refugee community in Indianapolis for seven years. She currently serves on two nonprofit boards: the American Civil Liberties Union and Women4Change. She is also a part of Class 4 for Hoosier Women Forward.

Maria Khan

Maria Khan

School of Medicine

Maria Khan, an Indiana University School of Medicine graduate from Avon, Indiana, is dedicated to community advocacy, public health, and mentorship. She served as a leader within multiple Indianapolis free clinics to improve the quality of care. As president of the Medical Student Council, she worked closely with school administration to advocate for supportive student experiences. Finally, she served as a mentor for undergraduates and medical students to encourage younger colleagues to continue work for underserved communities.

Eric Klipsch

Eric Klipsch

School of Medicine

Eric Klipsch, a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine from Evansville, Indiana, has volunteered with organizations dedicated to providing free healthcare to the underserved populations of Indianapolis for nearly six years. As a board member at the Indiana University Student Outreach Clinic, he has devoted his efforts to helping patients enroll in affordable medical insurance plans and to creating new services that help patients overcome the barriers keeping them from receiving quality healthcare.

Vik Meadows

Vik Meadows

School of Medicine

Vik Meadows, an Indiana University School of Medicine PhD graduate from Houston, Texas, is dedicated to science accessibility, science education outreach, and science communication within the Indianapolis community through collaborations with Indiana Latino Institute and Christamore House. Outside of Indianapolis, Vik works with Behind our Science podcast to increase accessibility to scientific articles. She also co-founded Biochem Chat to increase representation in STEM and improve networking opportunities for minoritized graduate students across the United States.

 

Vitalis Osuji

Vitalis Osuji

School of Medicine

Vitalis Osuji, a Indiana University School of Medicine and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health graduate from Boston, Massachusetts, is dedicated to mental wellness of physicians in Indianapolis through the Vital Healing Project organization. He is also invested in giving back to underserved communities, both here in Indianapolis and globally, through the 7 Elements at IUSM organization. During his time at IU, he has developed 7E partnerships with Fletcher Place Community Center and VHP partnerships with Crispus Attucks.

Luz Peredo-Muniz

Headshot of Luz

School of Health & Human Sciences

Luz Peredo-Muniz, an Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences graduate from Carmel, Indiana, is dedicated to increasing access to care for survivors of sexual violence, improving physical therapy services to underserved populations, and educating clinicians about trauma-informed care. Luz was a servant leader in IU Student Outreach Clinic’s PT program and facilitated the creation of the Intimate Partner Violence Screening Protocol, as well as the founding of the Women’s Health PT Clinic day.

Brycen Ratcliffe

Brycen Ratcliffe

School of Medicine

Brycen Ratcliffe, a Indiana University School of Medicine graduate from Newburgh, Indiana, is dedicated to increasing access to healthcare in Terre Haute by volunteering at Otter Creek Fire Department and the Mollie Wheat Memorial Clinic. For nearly six years, Brycen has been volunteering as an EMT firefighter, responding to emergency calls, and providing direct patient care, in addition to teaching classes and helping at the student-run free clinic.

Mariam Sylla

Miriam Sylla

Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

Mariam Sylla, an Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health graduate from Conakry-Guinea, has been active at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) for six years. She dedicated her time to being a campus citizen serving through programs on campus such as International Peer Mentoring, Resident Assistant, Social Justice Education, Peer Health Education, University Hearing Commission, Regatta, Student government/organizations, where she developed outreach programs and presentations. She is also involved in communities in Indianapolis and Conakry.