Health Alliance for the Uninsured Announces 2025 Dr. R. Murali Krishna Community Service Award Recipients
Oklahoma City, OK – March 6, 2025 – The Health Alliance for the Uninsured (HAU) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Dr. R. Murali Krishna Community Service Award: OU Medical Students Sarah G. Kenney and Sydney Verrett. This prestigious award, presented annually, recognizes senior medical students who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to community service and improving healthcare accessibility for underserved populations.
The 2025 awardees were selected from a highly competitive pool of ten outstanding nominees, representing a total of 10,695.5 volunteer hours across various medical specialties including obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
HAU Founder Dr. R. Murali Krishna, the award’s namesake and a distinguished advocate for community health, expressed his admiration for the awardees:
“The dedication of these future healthcare professionals to community service is truly inspiring. Their compassion and commitment to caring for underserved populations exemplify the values this award seeks to recognize. I am honored to support the next generation of healthcare leaders who will continue to make a profound difference in the lives of others.”
Sarah G. Kenney, specializing in pediatrics, has accumulated 1,595 volunteer hours. Her leadership in medical mission trips to Peru and her work at local health fairs reflect her deep commitment to providing essential pediatric care and health education to vulnerable populations.
Sydney Verrett, pursuing a specialty in plastic and reconstructive surgery, has dedicated 246.5 volunteer hours to serving under-resourced communities locally and abroad. Her work with children in Honduras and her contributions to Oklahoma City clinics underscore her mission to restore dignity and function to patients through reconstructive care.
Jeanean Yanish Jones, Executive Director of HAU, highlighted the significance of the award and the caliber of this year’s recipients:
“We are incredibly proud to honor Sarah and Sydney for their outstanding contributions to community health. Their dedication to serving the underserved aligns perfectly with HAU’s mission to improve healthcare access. These students represent the future of compassionate, patient-centered care.”
The award, funded by an endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, provides each recipient with a $1,000 scholarship to support their continued medical education and community service efforts. The scholarships will be presented at the OUCHA CARE (Clinical Application & Resource Exploration) Workshop on March 6, 2025, where all nominees will be recognized for their exceptional service.
2025 Dr. R. Murali Krishna Community Service Award OU Medical Student Nominees:
- Adaira R. Reid (Obstetrics and Gynecology)
- Amanda Pan (Specialty Not Specified)
- Charles F. Hojjat (Dermatology)
- Dakota St. Pierre (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
- Grace Kramer (Internal Medicine)
- Isha Jhingan (Dermatology)
- Mellisa Xie (Family Medicine)
- Sarah G. Kenney (Pediatrics)
- Sydney Verrett (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
- Vanessa A. Moore (Internal Medicine)
About the Health Alliance for the Uninsured
With approximately one in four Oklahomans lacking health insurance, the Health Alliance for the Uninsured (HAU) is dedicated to ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to the state’s underserved populations. HAU collaborates with physicians, safety-net clinics, hospitals, and public and private partners to bridge gaps in medical care. Through initiatives like Care Connection, Prescription Assistance, Healthcare Navigation, and Diabetes Support, HAU provides vital resources to support the uninsured community.
For more information about HAU and the Dr. R. Murali Krishna Community Service Award, visit www.hauonline.org or call 405-286-3343.
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Media Contact: Jeanean Yanish Jones
Executive Director, Health Alliance for the Uninsured
Phone: 405-286-3343 / 405-694-6154 cell
Email: [email protected]