Section on Early Career Physicians Health Equity Grants

Program Overview

The goal of the Section on Early Career Physicians (SOECP) Health Equity Grant Program is to support our early career physicians, especially those who are underrepresented in medicine, as they conduct research, interventions, and education that address antiracism and health equity in communities and institutions. Creative ideas are welcome, and some project examples include:

• Community approaches that target health disparities
• Institutional approaches to improve diversity in medicine
• Local gatherings that showcase careers in medicine for youth in underserved areas (similar to the Black Men in White Coats work)
• District-wide educational forum on antiracism

2025 Recipients

Alejandra Barrero-Castillero, MD, MPH, FAAP (Team: Sunah Susan Hwang, MD, MPH, PhD, Rose Molina, MD, MPH, Charles A Nelson, MD, PhD &  John A. F. Zupancic, MD, ScD) –  District I | Hispanic Family Experience of Psychosocial and Immigration-related Stressors and Support during NICU Admission

Tonia Branche, MD, MPH, FAAP – District VI | Supporting Parents’ Early Action for Kids (SPEAK-Up)

Vivian Doyle Mason, MD, FAAP (Team: Alexandria Card, MD, Christian Lawrence, MD, & Xavier Williams, MD) – District IV | Implementation of a Mentorship Program for Underrepresented in Medicine Medical Students in a Predominantly White Institution

Sophie Lieberman, MD, FAAP (Team: Sanjay Chainani, MD, Aditi Vasan, MD – District III) | Understanding the Inpatient Experience of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth and Families

Christina Fisher, MD, MSCS, FAAP – District VIII | Integration of Interpreter Services in NICU Care to Reduce Disparities for Caregivers with a Preferred Language of Spanish

Jeffery Holzberg, MD, FAAP (District VIII) | Raíces y Alas: Nurturing the Parent-Child Bond in a US-Mexico Border Community

Aura Obando, MD, FAAP – District I | Bridging Oral Health Care Gaps for Children Experiencing Homelessness in Boston

Devlynne Ondusko, MD, FAAP | (Team: Ladawna Gievers, MD & Christina Nguyyen, MD) – District VIII | Understanding the Impact of Specialized Postpartum Doulas for NICU to Home Transition for Low Income Families

Katherine Pumphrey, MD, MHA, MSHP, FAAP (Team: Marcella Luercio, MD, Maria Moncaliano, MD, & Bianca Quinones-Perez, MD – District I | Eliminating Pediatric Hospital Medicine Re-Admission Disparities for Patients who Use a Language other than English: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Amanda Stewart, MD, MPH, FAAP – District III | Pediatric Emergency Department Visit Characteristics for Children and Adolescents Presenting in Police Custody