DHS student nets prestigious scholarship

Abigail Ralph, a young Black woman with long curly hair wearing a white shirt
Abigail Ralph

Department of Health and Society student Abigail Ralph is one of 30 students from 10 countries to be awarded the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship.

The 4th year Neuroscience and Health Policy student was the only applicant from University of Toronto’s three campuses to be accepted to the program. Applicants were chosen based on academic strength and community engagement, among other factors.

The McCall MacBain Scholarship covers all tuition and fees for a master’s or professional degree at McGill, a living stipend of $2,000 per month during academic terms, mentorship, coaching, and a leadership development program. The 30 students will form the first global cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill University, arriving in September 2023.

Abigail said: "Receiving this scholarship is absolutely life-changing for me. It's an amazing honour and I’m delighted to have my work recognized. I am beyond excited for the next chapter as I complete my master’s in Neuroscience at McGill University."

Abigail was a co-investigator of the Vaccine Equity Project, which focuses on inequities in vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Rexdale and Jane & Finch area, with an emphasis on Black and racialized communities. She also acted as a research program coordinator for the “Don’t Count Us Out!” project, which focuses on health disparities in Canadian Black Nova Scotian communities exacerbated by COVID-19. She was also the first recipient of the Department of Health and Society’s Black Student Excellence Award in 2022.