Hudson College Faculty Member Named 2026 Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar

Dr. Cassandra Querdibitty, assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, has been selected as a 2026 Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

The competitive program supports promising early-stage investigators who are building careers in minority health and health disparities research. Scholars are selected based on their research accomplishments, scientific interests and potential to apply the institute’s training to strengthen their developing research programs.

Querdibitty’s work focuses on improving Indigenous maternal health through community-engaged research. Working alongside Tribal communities, she studies how environmental, nutritional, and social factors influence health and co-develops culturally grounded approaches that build on community strengths while addressing structural conditions that shape health. Her selection reflects both the strength of her scholarship and the potential of her research to advance community-informed solutions to persistent health inequities.

From Aug. 3-7, Querdibitty will join a select group of researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The intensive institute will feature lectures, seminars, small-group discussions and opportunities to connect with NIH scientific staff who oversee health disparities research across the agency.

Program topics will include the causes of health disparities, research design and measurement, intervention and implementation science, and the development of rigorous, reproducible research with real-world implications. Scholars will also receive individualized guidance on translating their research into competitive NIH grant applications.

Participation in the institute will strengthen Querdibitty’s research program, expand her interdisciplinary collaborations and support future federally funded research that addresses priorities identified by Indigenous communities.

Her selection demonstrates the Hudson College’s commitment to developing researchers who work alongside communities to create practical, evidence-based solutions to today’s public health challenges. It also reflects the opportunities available to students who want to learn alongside faculty members engaged in nationally recognized, purpose-driven research.

Through achievements like this, Hudson College faculty continue to elevate the college’s research mission and help prepare the next generation of public health professionals to partner with communities in advancing health equity.