GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

Joan Johnson Graduate Fellowship Award

Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve personal and economic empowerment. Soroptimist International of Los Angeles has given educational awards to outstanding women since 1947. The award of $3,500 is for the 2023-2024 academic year.

See the story of the 2023 winner below

Nuha Khalfay

Nuha Khalfay

Nuha is in the fourth year of her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Prior to medical school, she completed her B.A in Public Health and French from UC Berkeley in 2019 and completed a public policy fellowship at the City and County of San Francisco. Her drive to improve access to healthcare regardless of race, religion, gender, income, or immigration status is what propelled her towards a career in medicine. She is passionate about reproductive justice and increasing access to healthcare for women.

Nuha is involved in research in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology at UCLA focused on cost disparities, pain control, and contraception expansion for women. She is also part of the leadership team for UCLA’s student run homeless clinic to ensure that our most vulnerable community members have access to resources and healthcare. Outside of medical school, she is involved in shaping local policy through her role as an elected council member for the North Westwood Neighborhood Council which advises the Los Angeles City Council.

After completing her degree, she plans to pursue a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a physician, in addition to clinical care, and community service, she plans to work extensively on health care policy to help design and implement legislation that protects and sustains our communities’ most vulnerable populations.