The Colorado School of Public Health is proud to announce the selection of the inaugural cohort of the Sabin Community Scholars—an initiative designed to connect Master of Public Health (MPH) students with hands-on, community-based experiences that advance health and wellbeing across Colorado.
The program honors the legacy of Dr. Florence Sabin (1871–1953), a trailblazing scientist, educator, and public health reformer born in Central City, Colorado. As the first woman faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and later the first woman president of the American Association of Anatomists, Dr. Sabin broke barriers throughout her career. After retiring from academia, she returned to Colorado and dedicated herself to improving public health systems statewide. She traveled to nearly every county to advocate for more sanitation, disease prevention measures, and stronger public health laws. The Sabin Community Scholars Program reflects her enduring commitment to community engagement and practical, community-driven public health solutions.
The inaugural scholars, Tycelin Champagne and Maria Rodriguez, exemplify Dr. Sabin’s spirit through impactful, population-level work addressing gaps in care and access in communities that need it most.
Tycelin Champagne is working with the Northern Colorado Health Network in Greeley, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, evidence-based, and innovative prevention services, including HIV and STI testing, PrEP and nPEP education, and harm reduction. In her role, Champagne supports the organization’s syringe access program by preparing safer-use kits and ensuring offices are equipped to provide essential services. As part of her practicum experience, she has been meeting one-on-one with participants, distributing naloxone (Narcan) and other harm reduction materials such as fentanyl test strips, syringes, and glass pipes.
Her work aims to reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C while promoting bodily autonomy and community resilience. In addition to in-office support, Champagne participates in outreach efforts in partnership with local officials to expand access to harm reduction services across Greeley. This experience has also complimented Tycelin’s capstone project, which focuses on participatory research and the co-design of a harm reduction mobile application developed alongside program participants. The tool is intended to support individuals directly engaged in these services and has the potential to be scaled across the state.
“I am deeply grateful for the support to continue this important work. The Sabin Community Scholars Initiative affirms the importance of community-driven solutions, and I’m excited to carry that forward in partnership with the individuals and communities I have met during the course of my studies at ColoradoSPH.”
Maria Rodriguez has completed her practicum with Doctors Care, a nonprofit community clinic committed to providing high-quality, affordable health care and services that promote overall health and wellness—particularly for low-income individuals—by addressing barriers such as cost and social determinants of health through integrated primary care, mental health, and support services.
Born in Colombia and now a longtime Colorado resident, Rodriguez brings both lived experience and professional dedication to her work. Through her practicum, she has been supporting uninsured individuals and families from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds as they navigate the U.S. health care and insurance systems.
Working closely with clinic staff, Rodriguez has mapped the full patient journey, from initial awareness of coverage programs to enrollment and utilization of benefits. Her work has identified where patients experience confusion, barriers, or disconnection and translate those insights into practical improvements. This includes developing clearer, more accessible health insurance education materials and strengthening communication strategies to better serve communities with varying levels of health insurance literacy.
Her goals are both immediate and long-term: to help patients feel more confident and supported as they navigate health coverage, and to equip Doctors Care with sustainable tools and insights that enhance service delivery for diverse populations as policies and coverage options evolve.
“I’m truly grateful to the Sabin Community Scholars Program for this support and for investing in work that expands access and opportunity. It means a lot to be part of a community that believes in both the work and the people behind it.”
Together, these scholars represent the promise of the Sabin Community Scholars Program: preparing the next generation of public health leaders to engage directly with communities, address real-world challenges, and advance equitable health outcomes across Colorado and beyond.
For more information on the Sabin Community Scholars Program, contact Travis Leiker, Assistant Dean of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives, at 303-817-5744 or travis.leiker@cuanschutz.edu. If you are interested in supporting the program, contact ColoradoSPH Director of Development Micah Steward at micah.steward@cuanschutz.edu.