Latest Class of Stead Scholars Gains Awareness of Public Health
| The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health to sponsor the 2026 Stead Scholars Program.
The program gives students and recent graduates of an Arkansas college or university the opportunity to experience public health research and practice. During the internship’s closing ceremony, each intern presents their assigned research project in front of their family, peers, and public health professionals.
Named after William Stead, M.D., a former longtime employee at the health department, the eight-week, paid internship launched at ADH in 2012. In 2016, the College of Public Health joined the effort to help host the program.
Austin Porter, Dr.PH., MPH, chief science officer and state epidemiologist at ADH and an associate professor in the College of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management, said the 2026 group represents another important step in expanding the impact of public health in Arkansas.
“The Stead Scholars program often introduces students to the field early in their academic careers, giving them meaningful, hands-on exposure to what public health work truly looks like,” he said. “Through the Stead Scholars experience, the students explored potential career paths, built connections with professionals in practice and research, and gained an authentic understanding of the day‑to‑day realities and impact of public health.”
The 2026 Stead Scholars were
- Naina Bose, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Ethan Clemons, University of Arkansas at Monticello
- Sanaa Fields, Southern Arkansas University
- Lucas Langster, University of Central Arkansas
- Zane McCain, Arkansas State University
- Onyekachukwu Osih, Philander Smith University
- Rinrada Seeboonruang, Hendrix College
- Sara Cate Smith, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Warren Smith, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
McCain entered the program wanting to know more about public health and the career opportunities it offers. He conducted the project, “Examining Impact of RSV Immunizations on Children in Arkansas.”
While doing the study, he learned a lot about what epidemiologists do and how closely connected public health is with statistics.
“I enjoyed being with UAMS and the state health department teams, learning about their experiences in public health,” he said. “They gave me lots of helpful advice for my career aspirations.”
A Stead Scholar intern presents her research study during the program’s closing ceremony at the Arkansas Department of Health.
Osih was interested in being a Stead Scholar because she wanted to see how public health and clinical health in hospitals correlate. While working on the project, “Characteristics of Congenital Syphilis Cases Despite Prenatal Care Utilization in Arkansas” she learned a lot about public health and built a great rapport with her fellow interns.
“Everyone was nice, kind, and created environments where learning could easily take place,” she said. “There was no intimidation. It was very comfortable working in this program. I now realize that a lot of things in our social environments factor into our health.”
Langster came into the program eager to gain public health experience and develop new skills. While working on his project, “Analysis of Dog Bite Encounters in Arkansas 2015-2025,” he received a glimpse of the vast reach of public health.
“Through public health, I now see why people end up in a hospital or emergency room,” he said. “With public health, you can look at data of an entire region and learn what’s effecting an entire population. Working on a public health project was very eye opening.”
Bose learned about the Stead Scholars program through participating in a UAMS summer project in 2025. She said she had fun doing the study, “Environmental Exposures, Heavy Metals, and Breast Cancer Risk Factors Among Women in Arkansas.”
“I wanted to learn more about public health,” she said. “Most doctors focus on treating patients one-on-one. But I wanted to see more of the prevention and larger scale population aspect of healthcare.
“Being a Stead Scholar is something that a person interested in the health field should definitely do.”
Shelbie Stahr, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology, closely watches her Stead Scholar intern apply chemical drops into a tube.
Sara Cate Smith conducted the research project, “Haemophilus influenzae: a descriptive analysis of cases reported to ADH in 2009-2026.”
“Throughout the Stead Scholars internship, I enjoyed meeting the different people and building connections,” she said. “I learned a lot about how the health department’s outbreak and prevention response team works. I also gained experience on how to conduct a research project.”
Sanaa Fields worked on the study, “A Qualitative Inquiry into Municipal Code Enforcement Practices to Develop a Lead-Based Paint Enforcement Toolkit Supporting Increased Licensure.” She entered the program hoping to learn about the workings of public health and received exactly what she was looking for.
“The Stead Scholars program is a great way to learn about public health,” she said. “You will also learn about various public health organizations and public health career paths. I’d highly recommend this program to any person who has an interest in learning about the impact of public health.”
Rinrada Seeboonruang started her internship wanting to learn more about public health as she’s the president of the Hendrix pre-med club. Seeboonruang appreciates the experience, the mentorship she received, and the bonds she built with her fellow Stead Scholars.
“What I enjoyed the most is how much my assigned mentors worked closely with me,” she said. “If you want to be a complete future healthcare professional and you want to learn how to provide care and extend it to the community, you should definitely try the Stead Scholars program.”
Ethan Clemons found out about the Stead Scholars internship thanks to a teacher who encouraged him to apply and learn about public health. Clemons, who conducted the study, “Neisseria meningitidis and Fluroquinolones,” enjoyed his time in the program.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn about public health,” he said. “If you already know you’re interested in a public health career, it’s a great way to build connections within the field. It’s also a fun experience working with public health professionals.”
Warren Smith worked on “Maternal Circadian Disruption During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes.” Smith enjoyed learning the value of proper communication and how public health makes an impact for entire populations.
“I learned specifically about breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and public health as a whole,” he said. “I also learned how the issues, when we treat them clinically, have real population impact. Approaching it from the population health aspect, that makes treating the diseases easier and a lot more well-rounded.”
Porter commended the students for how eager they were to learn and fulfill the obligations of the program.
“Each class of Stead Scholars continues to impress me, and this year’s group was no exception,” he said. “They brought a diverse set of career interests, from nursing and clinical medicine to pharmacy and beyond, but shared a common understanding that these respective paths play a vital role in public health. It was a pleasure to watch them grow, learn and discover new areas of interest throughout the program. Getting to know their individual personalities and passions was truly rewarding. They were a dynamic group, and their enthusiasm and talent give me great confidence in the future of public health.”