Pincus Scholarship

Benefits of the scholarship include: 

• Receive up to $40,000 taxable stipend
• Receive special guidance in selection of community organization for the Applied Practice Experience
• Build a professional network with other Pincus scholars, over 50 VPI faculty, community partners and community leaders
• Learn in a specialized and interactive studio seminar
• Receive cross-disciplinary guidance and mentorship from VPI faculty and community partners.

Selected scholars will receive a $40,000 taxable stipend with $10,000 distributed over the course of the Fall and Spring semesters of two years. Scholarship funds may be withheld or revoked should the scholar fail to meet expectations or minimum academic standards. Additional expectations of Pincus Scholars include:

• Complete the MPH
• Complete SBPS 6260:Violence Prevention Studio Seminar and SBPS 6500: Violence as a Public Health Problem courses (descriptions of courses are included below)
• Participate in monthly professional and scholarly development meetings and events
• Work closely with designated faculty mentor to create a scholarly or practice-based product
• Complete a 300 hour Applied Practice Experience (100 hours more than required for the MPH) with a local community organization involved in the Pincus Scholarship program

Course descriptions:

• Violence Prevention Studio - This course is designed to create an interactive and unique learning environment for students, community partners, and Violence Prevention Institute faculty through strengthening the partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations focused on preventing violence as well as mitigating the negative effects of violence on children. Community partners will speak about the violence prevention programs and strategies utilized by their organization and will also discuss their specific training capacities and potential practicum projects for scholars to complete in their field based training.
• Violence as a Public Health Problem - This course is designed to give an overview of the problem of violence as viewed from a public health perspective. Students will look at the epidemiology of violence (scope, causes, risk factors, and consequences) alongside public health approaches to the problem. Local academic and community leaders in the field will lend their expertise to help students understand and address violence as a public health problem.

Applied Practice Experience:
All MPH students must complete an Applied Practice Experience. Pincus Scholars will complete this experience through field-based training, experiential learning, and direct mentorship. Scholars will be placed with a community organization based on interest to complete hands-on field-based training.

Integrated Learning Experience:
All MPH students complete an Integrated Learning Experience. Pincus scholars will be encouraged to focus on violence prevention.

Eligibility:
Students admitted to residential MPH programs in the Departments of Social and Behavioral Population Sciences (SBPS), International Health and Sustainable Development, Epidemiology, and Health Policy are welcome to apply. Additionally, combined degree students who have completed their BSPH, and dual degree students (MSW/MPH, MD/MPH) are also eligible to apply. Joint degree students (MD/MPH and MSW/MPH) and combined BSPH and MPH students are encouraged to apply.

Application Process:
Students will apply to The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine through SOPHAS, the central application hub for many schools and programs of public health. 

Once admitted to SPHTM, students will need to complete a secondary application to the Pincus Violence Prevention Scholarship.

For more information how to apply to SPHTM including admission requirements, visit SPHTM Admissions.