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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2025
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Samantha Anderson, (202) 420-7424, sanderson@communityplans.net   

ACAP RECOGNIZES KATARINA WATSON WITH SYLVIA B. KELLY MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR HEALTH EQUITY 

WASHINGTON—Today, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) announced its third annual Sylvia B. Kelly Medical Scholarship for Health Equity winner: Katarina Watson, a fourth-year medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Watson was recognized for her academic achievement and long-term commitment to improving Black reproductive health.  

Throughout medical school, Watson has pursued research and leadership opportunities to further her goal of becoming an OB-GYN committed to holistic, equitable and inclusive patient-centered care in safety-net hospitals and community settings.  

Her research includes authoring a paper on delivery timing for pregnant patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, conducting surveys on patient and provider satisfaction in a race-concordant reproductive health care clinic, and presenting a narrative analysis of medical students’ reflections on racism in the OB/GYN clinical learning environment. She also has volunteered at the Bay Area’s Pregnancy Pop-Up Village—a monthly event focused on providing Black pregnant and parenting community members with essential resources and support. 

Watson’s focus centers on Reproductive Justice, an effort that earned her the UCSF Summer Explore Fellowship. Her fellowship findings highlighted the critical need for race-concordant reproductive healthcare. Additionally, Watson is currently amongst the first researchers investigating changes in sexual function among patients undergoing gender-affirming hysterectomies. 

“Tackling the national crisis of Black maternal mortality remains a priority for ACAP and our member Safety Net Health Plans,” said ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray. “Katarina’s passion and commitment to improving Black reproductive health outcomes are evident. As a future physician dedicated to addressing established inequities, she is exactly the person this scholarship was created for.” 

The Sylvia B. Kelly Medical Scholarship is a $25,000 grant given to a rising fourth-year medical student in an effort to improve health equity by focusing attention and resources on the significant disparities in maternal health outcomes among Black women. 

The scholarship is administered by the National Medical Fellowships (NMF), which has provided scholarships and support for underrepresented minority students in medicine and the health professions since 1946. NMF alumni serve tens of millions of patients every year.

About ACAP: 
ACAP represents 83 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 30 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit communityplans.net. 

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