The 14th Annual Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship Forum was more than a celebration of public service — it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose.
Held on May 15th at La Salle College Preparatory High School in Pasadena, this year’s forum brought together leaders in public health, policy, planning, academia, and the American College of Healthcare Executives to honor the next generation of changemakers.
The highlights of the evening were posters and presentations by 2025 fellow graduates and the announcement of the winners of the Fellowship’s first-ever Policy & Innovation Challenge, which tasked current and former fellows with designing bold, actionable solutions for rebuilding communities affected by Southern California’s devastating wildfires earlier this year.
A total of $40,000 in prize money was awarded to three standout teams whose proposals tackled everything from housing and infrastructure to public health and climate adaptation.
First Place – $25,000
“Leveraging Smart, Equitable Policy to Meet the Health, Housing, and Economic Needs of Southern Californians in the Face of Climate Change and Disaster Recovery”
Team: Colleen Corrigan, Whitney Francis, Jin Zhang
This winning proposal outlined a sweeping vision across five critical areas—from bioremediation and community resilience hubs to Medi-Cal climate supports and modular housing. The team’s multi-sectoral strategy was praised for its intersectionality and readiness for real-world implementation.
Second Place – $10,000
“Reimagining Recovery: A Comprehensive Policy Blueprint for Los Angeles County’s Wildfire Resilience”
Team: Dr. Zachary Travis, Kevin Alvillar
Focused on performance-based utility regulation and systems-level coordination, this proposal offered a strategic framework for moving from disaster response to long-term resilience planning—anchored in equity and prevention.
Third Place – $5,000
“Equitable Solutions to Dire Fires in Southern California”
Team: Kriseira Lamas-Krauletz, Calleshia Gilliam, Jaimie Le
This team proposed decentralized solar microgrids, AI-powered fire prediction, and modular housing for displaced residents—offering a practical and community-centered vision for rebuilding smarter and stronger.
For Randall Lewis, the evening was a reflection of everything the Fellowship stands for.
“The Fellowship has always been about investing in people with bold ideas and a heart for service,” said Lewis.
This year’s entries reminded us that out of great challenge can come great innovation. I’m incredibly proud of all the participants for the creativity, care, and vision they brought to this challenge.”
Now in its 14th year, the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship continues to connect talented graduate students with host agencies across Southern California to improve health outcomes and advance equity. Learn more about the program and how to get involved at p4bhealth.org/fellowship-application.
Rosie Lewis is the Corporate Marketing Manager at The Lewis Group of Companies. She is a Claremont native who enjoys hiking, yoga, and developing her green thumb.