Clinical Psychology PhD student Isaac Morales has been named to this year’s prestigious cohort of Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—a leadership development program for doctoral students from historically marginalized backgrounds who are applying their research to advance health and equity. Morales’s research is helping build what the foundation describes as a “Culture of Health” that helps enable everyone in America to live longer and healthier lives.

The program offers an annual award of up to $30,000 for up to four years, mentorship from public health and policy leaders, and training in health equity, the policy process, leadership, and communication.

Morales will use the award to advance his primary research on parenting and disruptive child behaviors, with a long-term goal of connecting traditionally underserved communities to evidence-based treatments. 

“A large part of my research involves the study of how ecological factors, like access to healthcare and high-quality education centers, can impact the mental health of families,” Morales explains. “One way I do so is through using geospatial data – information about neighborhoods that tells us about everything from air pollution to median household income. We use this data to examine how systemic inequities impact things like anxiety symptoms or irritability in children.”  

Through understanding how to support families at a neighborhood level, Morales hopes to provide policymakers and community members with findings that can be used to advocate for equitable policy initiatives.

Professor of Psychology David Haaga says, “Isaac’s work beautifully illustrates the emphasis of our clinical psychology PhD program on integrating research and applied work and using our expertise as clinical psychologists to work toward a more equitable and inclusive society.”

Psychology Professor Nicole Lorenzo, who serves as a mentor to Morales, adds the award is richly deserved. “Isaac is a thoughtful student, well-liked by his peers, and always willing to go the extra mile to help other students in the lab. I am always amazed by the scope of his research questions and passion for understanding systems level disparities that may impact parent and child mental health. He is truly eager to learn more about methods and processes and how that may impact what researchers and scientists know about racial and ethnic disparities.”

Research Founded on Personal Experience

Morales says his work is inspired by his grandfather’s work as a public defender and judge, as well as his grandmother’s work as a teacher. “My interest in the relationship between neighborhood environments and systemic racism is informed by my experience growing up in both rural and suburban areas of Arizona in a multiracial family,” he explains. “Over the next four years with HPRS, I plan to collaborate with researchers in non-health related fields to combat racial health disparities and learn more about advocating for equitable policy initiatives at a local, state, and national level.”  

Isaac is still undecided about what his hopes are after graduate school, says Lorenzo, including considering how psychology can play a role in policymaking. Lorenzo says that the fellowship is a great opportunity to help gifted PhD candidates finalize a path after they’ve earned a PhD. 

“One of the wonderful benefits of the fellowship is the opportunity to attend workshops and webinars where Isaac will learn more about policy and advocacy to help him make this decision," she explains. “Another unique aspect of the program is the multidisciplinary nature of the cohort, ranging from engineers and economists to psychologists and other public health professionals. I am excited that Isaac will have this opportunity to network and collaborate with individuals from different disciplines and transform his work and his thinking to develop new and innovative ways to help increase access to mental health care for children and families.”

For More Information

For more information about psychology programs at AU, visit the website of the Department of Psychology. For information about the Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) program, visit the website of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.