The mission of the Health Professions Scholars Initiative (HPSI) is to guide California State University (CSU) students toward graduate education in the health professions by fostering mentorship, applied research, and community-focused scholarship.
What the HPSI Offers
In 2024 – 2025, the Health Professions Scholar Initiative launched as a pilot Health Professions Track of the California Pre-Doctoral Program. In the past two academic years, 23 students majoring in health-related disciplines were awarded funding as Health Professions Scholars. These funds are designed to supporting CSU students to protect and promote health through research, training, and leadership, while guiding future health scholars and leaders in protecting California's communities. Awards are based on competitive review of student applications and given to current CSU upper-division or graduate students who, in the judgment of the review panel, demonstrate academic excellence and potential and are committed to exploring pathways for CSU to conduct research, lead, and care for community health.
Benefits of being selected as a Health Professions Scholar include an academic year scholarship to enhance understanding and application of scholarship in the health professions, under the guidance of dedicated CSU faculty mentor selected by the student at their home campus.
Scholarship funds can be used for:
- travel to a national symposium or professional meeting, and related activities such as membership in professional organizations and journal subscriptions
- allowable expenses related to conduct of research activities
- visits to doctoral-granting institutions to explore opportunities for advanced training in research
- graduate school application and test fees
In addition to in-person and virtual networking and professional development opportunities, Health Professions Scholars will have the opportunity to apply for a funded summer research opportunity at a doctoral-granting institution.
HPSI Application
Applications for the 2026 – 2027 Health Professions Scholarship will be available in late December. Please check this page often for updates.