Hudson College Doctoral Student Receives Joan K. Leavitt, MD Award of Excellence

Zahra Alhay, a doctoral candidate in the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Joan K. Leavitt, MD Award of Excellence from the Oklahoma Public Health Association.

Named in honor of Dr. Joan K. Leavitt, who served as Oklahoma State Commissioner of Health from 1977 to 1993, the award recognizes a Hudson College student who demonstrates high academic achievement, leadership abilities and promise for a career in public health.

Alhay, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences, has distinguished herself through academic achievement, interdisciplinary research and a commitment to improving children’s oral health. She is expected to graduate in fall 2026 and has maintained a 3.941 GPA while completing her doctoral coursework and an ambitious three-article dissertation.

Her dissertation examines children’s oral health from several perspectives, bringing together geospatial analysis, behavioral science, evidence synthesis and community-based research. Her work explores the relationship between dental caries among Oklahoma third graders and the geographic distribution of dental providers, as well as how caregivers’ beliefs and other psychosocial factors can influence children’s oral health behaviors and outcomes.

Alhay has already shared her oral health research with audiences at the National Oral Health Conference, the OPHA Student Showcase and the OPHA annual conference. She has also contributed to peer-reviewed research examining community health worker training in dementia care and fetal cannabis exposure and neonatal outcomes.

Her research has also taken her beyond the classroom and into Oklahoma communities. For her community-engaged dissertation study, Alhay secured a $4,930 grant from the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation as well as an in-kind award from Liberty Dental Plan of Oklahoma providing 1,200 participant incentives. She has worked directly with school districts and community partners to coordinate the study, manage survey distribution and navigate the challenges of conducting school-based research.

That ability to turn research into practice is rooted in Alhay’s professional background. Before beginning her doctoral training, she worked as a clinical dental hygienist, gaining experience in prevention, patient education and community outreach. At mobile dental clinics affiliated with the University of Southern California, she supervised dental and dental hygiene students, developed an age-tailored oral health instruction manual and created educational materials for children and parents. Her previous experience also includes school-based oral health programs in Saudi Arabia and outreach to children with visual and hearing impairments.

Alhay has continued that commitment to service and collaboration as a graduate research assistant with the Oklahoma Dementia Care Network. Her work has included co-leading dementia-focused training for community health workers, providing technical assistance, conducting program evaluation, preparing reports, contributing to manuscripts and presenting findings at scientific conferences.

After completing her PhD, Alhay plans to return to Saudi Arabia and pursue an academic career focused on children’s oral health and disease prevention. Her goal builds upon years of clinical practice, community outreach and research focused on helping children and families establish healthier futures.

The Joan K. Leavitt, MD Award of Excellence recognizes not only what a student has already accomplished, but also the potential for meaningful contributions throughout a career in public health. Through her research, leadership and sustained commitment to prevention and children’s health, Alhay exemplifies that promise.

Congratulations to Zahra on this well-deserved recognition.