Briseida Ayala, a first-year student in the Master of Occupational Therapy (OT) program, has received a Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship for 2025-2026 from the Latino Center for Health (LCH). This annual fellowship awards up to 16 graduate or professional students committed to improving Latinx community health with $5,000 in funding, through nominations from participating Washington universities.
“Being selected for the LCH fellowship has made me feel not only supported and seen but also excited about the partnership. By collaborating with LCH, I can ensure that my academic output is not just a graduation requirement but a resource that can be used by community partners,” says Ayala.
Ayala was inspired to choose this career path from a very young age. Growing up in an agricultural community in Washington, Ayala spent summers as a young girl watching her parents and community members endure debilitating injuries, only to keep working because they had no other choice.
“What drew me to OT specifically is its focus on occupation—the meaningful activities that allow us to live our lives. For an agricultural worker, their occupation is their livelihood, and I saw the gap that needed to be closed,” says Ayala. “The healthcare system often fails these workers: first, through a lack of preventative education, and second, through a lack of cultural humility. I witnessed and heard how language barriers and institutional distrust kept my community from seeking the rehabilitation they desperately needed,” she adds.
After completing the fellowship, Ayala plans to work on her first major project, which will bring healthcare and intervention to agricultural fields. The project will involve conducting site-based ergonomic assessments and teaching preventative movements to reduce the high rates of musculoskeletal disorders among farm workers.
“I want to focus on helping my community feel comfortable with the healthcare system and build their trust. By providing them with culturally responsive care, they will be more inclined to seek help from us. I aim to ensure that the next generation of workers doesn't just survive their labor, but thrives in their health,” says Ayala.
The fellowship is awarded to the most promising student who demonstrates outstanding commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Latinx/e communities in Washington state and beyond.
“This fellowship represents a shift from being a student to becoming a partner in health equity. As an OT, I am trained to look at how the environment and occupation affect health. Through this fellowship, I hope to be part of transforming how Washington state views the health of its Latinx/e workers,” adds Ayala.