Aequitas Health is a national honor society formed in 2021 in response to a collective awareness of the deep-rooted health inequities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its mission is to recognize and support future physicians who actively work to eliminate health inequities in all forms — across clinical care, community engagement, and advocacy.
Fellows inducted into the Whiddon College of Medicine chapter exemplify these values through a record of impact and dedication to vulnerable populations in Alabama and beyond.
Class of 2026 Fellows
- Qays Aljabi
- Ben Cockrell
- Isabella Dinelli
- Mary Faragalla
- Ryan Ford
- Chandler Hinson
- Allen Perkins
- Brandon Schonour
Addressing Health Disparities Through Action
The newly inducted Fellows have made meaningful contributions to health equity through a diverse array of projects, leadership roles, and community initiatives. Their efforts include:
- Revitalizing access to vision screening services in underserved communities through the FocusFirst program, restoring local infrastructure for early diagnosis of preventable vision impairment in children.
- Leading and expanding the Student-Run Free Clinic, providing preventive screenings, chronic disease education, and integrated care coordination for unhoused and uninsured individuals, including targeted efforts in cancer detection, mental health, and audiologic assessment.
- Conducting impactful research on social determinants of health, including projects examining trauma recovery, misdiagnosis and access gaps in autoimmune disease, geographic disparities in care delivery, and culturally informed palliative care.
- Launching health promotion initiatives in rural and tribal communities, such as the development of nature trails to encourage physical activity, telehealth facilities for elders, and health education outreach for Native American youth and families.
- Advancing health literacy through structured education programs targeting diabetes, heart disease, and medication safety — empowering patients to manage chronic conditions more effectively.
- Engaging in health disparities curriculum reform and peer mentorship, ensuring inclusive learning environments for medical trainees and supporting the development of a more representative healthcare workforce.
- Participating in interprofessional service-learning via the AHEC Scholars Program, contributing over 80 hours of training and community outreach focused on Alabama’s medically underserved populations.
As one of their first official activities as Fellows, several of the newly inducted members participated in a panel discussion on servant leadership with the first-year medical students. This activity marked a meaningful moment of inter-class engagement and demonstrated the Fellows’ commitment to mentoring and modeling equity-driven leadership for the next generation of physicians.
“These students embody the mission of Aequitas Health and reflect the Whiddon College of Medicine’s values of service, leadership, and a commitment to advancing health for all,” said Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., president of the Whiddon COM Chapter of Health Aequitas.
“We are proud to celebrate their achievements and look forward to the continued impact they will have in their careers as equity-minded physician leaders, said Franklin Trimm, M.D., associate dean of health advancement.
