December 17, 2008
Omar Contreras, a Master's of Public Health (MPH) student in the Epidemiology concentration area at the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH), has been chosen to receive the prestigious Centennial Award at the University of Arizona Commencement Ceremony in December of 2008. The Centennial Award was established in 1984 to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions of minority graduate students at the University of Arizona.
Academic and scholarly achievements, community and campus service, professional affiliations, and experience in the workplace or university are considered for the award and preference is given to minority students who are the first in their family working toward an advanced degree from a university. Omar joins two other recent MEZCOPH Centennial Award |
Omar Contreras speaking
at the annual MEZCOPH
Campaign for Student Excellence Scholarship Luncheon.
|
winners, Ruthie Fesahazion and Carol Goldtooth-Begay in this impressive honor.
An Outstanding Record of Service
Omar, who serves as the President of the Public Health Student Alliance, has distinguished himself as an outstanding student and citizen of the College of Public Health and the University of Arizona. In addition to receiving the Russell H. Swanso n Public Health Scholarship and the Andrew J. Nichols Scholarship, Omar was chosen as an EXPORT Fellow in the Fall of 2007 and continues his involvement in EXPORT Fellowship initiatives related to eliminating health disparities in underserved populations. Prior to his admission to the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, Omar was awarded a one-year fellowship at the National Institutes of Health as a member of the NIH Academy, a post-baccalaureate program that provides opportunities for minority students to pursue biomedical research dedicated to the elimination of domestic health disparities. His work at the NIH Honors Academy included leading a committee responsible for planning a health promotion fair to effectively address health issues occurring in minority and low-income populations, with an emphasis in diabetes. He was awarded first place at the NIH Post-baccalaureate Symposium. This fellowship followed two summer internships during his baccalaureate career, one at National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease and the other at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Omar also served as co-chair of the Fall 2008 MPH Internship Conference, co-captain of the Diabetes Walk, and co-chair of the 2008 Diversity Celebration, which promotes diversity within the realms of public health. He also is a brother of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity and a research associate at the UA College of Nursing, investigating the level of exercise program adherence in diabetic adolescents.
An American Immigrant
| One of six students featured at the annual Campaign for Student Excellence Scholarship Luncheon, held on October 31, 2008 at Tucson's Hacienda del Sol where students and scholarship benefactors get to meet and learn about each other, Omar said, “My reality is that of the American immigrant.” Originally from Juarez, Mexico, he said he vividly remembers crossing the Rio Grande River to the United States at the age of only six. Determinación — his family’s strength — has helped him to persevere. His grandmother taught him that the "only way to |
Omar Contreras dances with College of
Nursing student Isela Hernandez at
the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health's
2008 Diversity Celebration. |
fail is to give up!" The son of a single mother with an eighth-grade education, Omar has depended on scholarships for college. Omar also helped his mother raise his younger brother, and he’s the first in his family to graduate from high school and to obtain a college degree. Losing his grandmother recently to diabetic complications helped further his resolve to help people with that disease. As the first member of his family to attend college, Omar possesses an appreciation for the academic opportunities afforded him and these opportunities have strengthened his desire and drive to become a doctor and public health scientist. The family history of diabetes has led to his ultimate goal of helping individuals with this chronic disease. A newly naturalized citizen, Omar voted for the first time in November, 2008. He plans to become a physician and epidemiologist, dedicated to diabetes research, and plans to help develop strategies for prevention and management of the disease in Latino communities.
Omar received a bachelor of science in 2006 from the University of Arizona in molecular and cellular biology. As an undergraduate, Contreras was a Minority Access to Research Careers trainee, gaining funding to conduct biomedical research during his last two years of undergraduate studies.
Congratulations, Omar, on your Centennial Award!
Students featured at the 2008 Campaign for Student Excellence Scholarship
Luncheon pose with keynote speaker Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th
Surgeon General of the United States, vice chairman of Canyon Ranch,
president of the Canyon Ranch Institute, and distinguished professor
at MEZCOPH. Left to right: Chris Tisch, assistant dean, MEZCOPH
Student and Alumni Affairs; Miriam Zmiewski; Keisha Robinson;
Dr. Richard Carmona; Omar Contreras; Courtnee Benford;
Marisol Flores-Aguirre; and MayLynn Riding In.
Go to the MEZCOPH Student Awards News Page
Related Links
- Export Fellows Teach Diabetes Awareness.
Project EXPORT fellows Keisha Robinson, Omar Contreras, and Angelo Ercia organized the educational seminar to teach about the high prevalence of diabetes in Arizona's Native American and Hispanic populations and the devastating effect this disease can have on these minority populations. University of Arizona web news story.
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