Apply for the Dr. G. William and Linda Orr Medical Student Award

The One Health Institute at Colorado State University (CSU) is proud to offer the William and Linda Orr Medical Student Award for a medical student with a focus in One Health to complete a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the CSU campus of the Colorado School of Public Health.

Student Award Application Period | June 15 - November 16, 2026

Student Award Notification | November 20, 2026

Student Award Acceptance | December 15, 2026

Note: This student award is contingent on the submission of a formal MPH application in SOPHAS Express and an offer of admission to the MPH/MD Dual Degree Program. 

Criteria

The applicant must be: 

  • A currently enrolled University of Colorado School of Medicine medical student in their 3rd year 
  • Interested in obtaining a one-year Master of Public Health (MPH) at the Colorado State University (CSU) campus of the Colorado School of Public Health between their 3rd and 4th year of medical school
  • Interested in One Health, preference given to a University of Colorado School of Medicine medical student at the Colorado State University (CSU) branch campus
  • In good academic standing

Please provide a cover letter, CV and a letter of good academic standing, which must be received by 11:59 p.m. MST on November 15, 2026.

The cover letter should address the medical student’s interest in One Health and how obtaining a Master of Public Health degree will advance their career to better serve the health of communities especially during adverse public health events. Students will have the flexibility to start the MPH in May/June or August. The awardee will be invited to speak during the annual One Health Day celebration at Colorado State University.

Submission

The joint Colorado State University and University of Colorado School of Medicine award committee will screen the applicants for selection. To apply, send a cover letter describing your aspirations in medicine as outlined above, CV and a letter of good academic standing by e-mail to: [email protected]. 

Please submit all files in PDF format. All applicants will receive email notification of receipt of their application. 

Please direct any questions to [email protected] or [email protected].

Hannah Anderson: 2025 Orr Award Recipient Spotlight

We are excited to announce Hannah Anderson as our very first Dr. G. William and Linda Orr Medical Student Award recipient! We sat down with Hannah to hear about her goals for her MPH, her journey, and her relationship to One Health:

“What made you want to extend your education to pursue an MPH while in medical school?”

HA: I’m very interested in healthcare systems and policy. I plan to go into anesthesiology because it’s a specialty that sits at the center of a hospital system. Anesthesiologists interact with nearly every department, which creates opportunities to influence both hospital operations and broader healthcare policy. An MPH gives me another perspective beyond the physician viewpoint. It allows me to think about healthcare from a public health perspective and, ideally, integrate that with the One Health framework.

I’m particularly interested in how healthcare systems affect the environment and how those environmental impacts, in turn, affect patients, animals, and ecosystems. The MPH will help me better understand those connections.

“Why did you choose CSU for your MPH?”

HA: When I applied to medical school, I applied to the University of Colorado School of Medicine and then separately applied to the Fort Collins branch campus…part of that decision was the One Health emphasis, and part of it was personal—my husband attended CSU for his undergraduate degree, and we’ve always loved the area.

The Colorado School of Public Health is a partnership among CU, CSU, and UNC. For me, completing the MPH through CSU made the most sense both academically and logistically, especially because of the One Health opportunities available here.

“How do you think One Health training will help further your career?”

HA: One Health helps me think about systems and how different parts interact. That applies to environmental ecosystems, but it also applies to healthcare systems and hospital environments. It’s about understanding how decisions in one area affect outcomes elsewhere. I want to be aware of how healthcare impacts the broader world and how broader environmental factors influence healthcare delivery.

A big reason I’m pursuing this degree is because I know there are gaps in my knowledge. I want to discover what I don’t yet know and learn how these systems fit together.

Thank you Hannah, and congratulations on being the first recipient of the Dr. G William and Linda Orr Medical Student Award!