Meet Our Scholars

This section is devoted to showcasing our scholarship recipients. This section will be updated to provide a profile of a different student or students each month. 

Ramona Lall

Ramona Lall grew up in Kolkata (Calcutta), India.  Living in such a densely populated city sparked an early interest in public health issues.  As a child of 14 she gathered more than 100 signatures to petition the Municipal  Corporation of Calcutta to improve garbage collection in her neighborhood.  This experience convinced Ramona that she would always remain interested in combining environmental and social issues to provide effective solutions for improving living conditions, especially in large urban areas. 

Ramona moved to the United States at age 18 and began an undergraduate degree in environmental studies with a focus on social sciences.  This course of study helped provide structure for her earlier interests, but she realized she needed additional assessment and analytical skills to complete her studies.

As Ramona was especially interested in air pollution, she applied to New York University’s graduate program.  The extensive research opportunities have included work on the World Trade Center study and a National Particle Component Toxicology (NPACT) study.  “We are conducting a nationwide source apportionment analysis to identify and estimate the different source contributions of PM throughout the U.S. These different research opportunities, I believe, have greatly contributed to my overall understanding of the field,” explains Ramona.

Ramona’s Ph.D thesis studies fine particulate matter pollution in New York City and its impact on elderly hospital admissions for respiratory and circulatory causes. In  particular, this work identifies and quantifies PM2.5 from different PM sources and  investigates whether particles from certain sources are more harmful to human health than others. 

According to Ramona, being awarded an AIH Foundation scholarship was thrilling.  “It allowed me to purchase a much-needed laptop and attend some key conferences.” She  encourages other students to pursue graduate studies in the environmental health and safety fields.  She adds, “It is rewarding and very satisfying work.  The field is so vast there is sure to be an area that interests you.”

Reginald Richards

Reginald Richards was born in Syracuse, New York and grew up in a  small suburb of that city called Kirkville.  He is the oldest of four kids, with two brothers and a sister. 

Reginald attended Kansas State as an undergraduate, the first in his family and extended family to graduate from college.  He is also the only member of his family to have an advanced degree, an accomplishment of which he is  particularly proud.

Although Reginald did not have clear career plans after Kansas State, he knew he wanted to work in the health field.  He enlisted in the Army, where he first became familiar with occupational health.  As an officer in the Army Medical Department, he found himself learning about public health.  After his first assignment in this area, he was hooked.  “I decided to stay in the profession, “ Richards remembers, “and when I was reassigned to the local hospital, I developed a passion for industrial hygiene and  protecting the health of employees as well as the community.”

Reginald is currently a Doctoral candidate at the George Washington School of Public Health.  He likes the program because it allows him to focus on the practice of industrial hygiene more so than research or academia.  The program has the additional appeal of allowing him to work full time and still attend evening classes.

Reginald’s academic interest focus on emergency preparedness and response, veteran’s health, and training issues.  He confesses that he likes all his academic studies.  “I know it sounds geekish”, he admits, “but I love all my classes.  I am finding that I am particularly good at statistics and epidemiology.”

Winning an AIH Foundation scholarship has helped Reginald solidify his commitment to the profession.  “I feel honored to have been chosen and when I finish, I am going to continue to work hard and contribute to the profession”.

Reginald feels that this is a great time to get into the profession.  He notes, “Many have said that IH is on the decline.  I say it’s evolving into something wonderful.  We are asked to do more today and a lot of us are stepping up to the plate.  I would also say never stop learning.  Learn all you can and constantly apply that knowledge to better the lives of employees, their families, and the community.”