Fostering the Next Generation of Food Is Medicine Champions

The Research and Evaluation Scholars Program at God’s Love aims to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to participate in community engaged research. At God’s Love, our Scholars learn, create, and administer qualitative research processes such as questionnaires, structured interviews, and surveys. In doing so, they represent the next generation of researchers and student scholars helping to build upon existing research while furthering the work of our organization.

With the help of our Scholars, we have been able to collect pilot research data for an observational study and a qualitative study. Scholars also contributed to our successful application for funding for a new clinical trial through the American Heart Association.

Our Scholars bring rigor and visibility to the work of God’s Love. Earlier this year, some of our students presented research posters at the NYU undergraduate research conference. We were thrilled to learn that God’s Love Research Scholars Dustin Cong and Rachel Leif were recognized at the conference. Dustin won best poster in his group, and Rachel received a fellowship to support her exceptional collaborations with our organization.

Our third and newest cohort includes Tianrong Chen, Lilly Krupp, Kanoe Evile, Sarahy Martinez, Helen Osmani, and Christian Brown.

These students represent Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ithaca College, and the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). They are now busy working on projects for their Master’s in Public Health programs, volunteering in health equity projects, and gaining more community-engaged research experience. We are proud of our student Scholars who will carry forward the work of God’s Love and the Food is Medicine movement. Thank you to all our Scholars for your commitment to supporting vulnerable populations.