Kristyn A. Bridges, originally from Charlotte, NC, received her B.A. in Sociology from Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2010. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling (Rehabilitation Counseling) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kristyn is a Rehabilitation Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Scholar. Being a scholar has allowed her the opportunity to attend professional conferences, which has provided her with pluthera knowledge in the counseling and psychology professions. Kristyn has a special interest in working with clients with severe mental disabilities.Kristyn plans to obtain her M.S. in May 2013 and pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology shortly after.
Category: Health Equity Ambassadors
The Health Equity Scholars program has facilitated the training of over 30 scholars: pre-college, college, post-bac, and post-doctorate trainees. The health equity scholars program was formerly named the Health Disparities training program between 2003 and 2005 when Dr. David Mount was then a post-doc fellow at the University of Missouri. Renamed and redefined, the health equity scholars program launched in 2007 through a grant from the American Psychological Foundation, and then further supplemented in 2009 through a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant from the Piedmont Triad Partnership and the U.S. Department of Labor. Both grants awarded to Dr. Mount focused on growing a critical mass of diverse health professionals. Program goals include efforts to:
• Implement a multi-university partnership in the Triad Area to address the problem of health care disparities across the Piedmont Triad.
• Recruit and retain a population of students who are seeking graduate and professional training in the health professions and committed to remedying health care disparities in underserved populations.
• Augment the preparation of students who are committed to a career in the health professions with enhanced research skills and policy sensitivity to issues of healthcare disparities, and health equity.
• Address health equity concerns related to workforce strength in the health professions, health professions diversity, providing a culturally rich and diverse environment that is recognized for providing encouragement, support, and resources to people from all backgrounds.
Orita McCorkle
Ms. Orita McCorkle, a native of North Carolina, is a 2007 graduate of Wake Forest University. After graduating with a B.A. in psychology, Orita worked as a research specialist at the Maya Angelou Center on Minority Health (now named the Maya Angelou Center of Health Equity). Orita worked under the mentorship and guidance of Dr. David L. Mount and Kristen G. Hairston to address the issues created by the relationship between one’s mind, body and spirit. Orita is currently earning a dual Master degree in Divinity and Counseling to further her work on this important topic. She hopes to encourage other to become informed and empowered to take care of their mind, body and spirit.