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Political Science Student Named 2013 Marshall Scholar

February 4, 2013

Political Science Student Named 2013 Marshall Scholar

Alex Chaitoff, a fourth-year student majoring in microbiology and political science, has been named a 2013 Marshall Scholar. He is one of thirty-four 2013 Marshall Scholars across the nation and only the sixth ever in Ohio’s history. Next year, Chaitoff will have the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Health at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. 

The Marshall Scholarship was founded by a 1953 Act of Parliament to honor US Secretary of State George C Marshall and commemorate the Marshall Plan. The Scholarship funds up to three years of graduate study for American students at any institution in the United Kingdom in any field of study.  The program is intended to strengthen the relationships between the British and American people, their governments and their institutions. To learn more about the Marshall Scholarship please visit their website.

Winning the Marshall Scholarship has been an amazing experience for Alex and he has expressed his sincere gratitude to those around him for helping him work to achieve this award.

“I am extremely honored to have been awarded the Marshall Scholarship. While technically it means that I will be able to study for my Master of Public Health in the United Kingdom, I think it represents much more. It represents the unique academic and social opportunities at this university, and it is a reflection on the approachability and helpfulness of the accomplished faculty. I’m excited to use this award to work towards my ultimate goal of contributing to better health outcomes through policy and program initiatives, but I know I would never have even been competitive for it without the support of this school, so I'm also very proud to represent The Ohio State University.”

During his college career, Chaitoff has been very active in starting and leading groups around campus such as the Pure Water Access Project, Inc., Global Health Initiative, Undergraduate Research Office Student Advisory Committee, Mock Trial Team, and AirCollegia, LLC. In addition, Chaitoff has won many awards including 2012 Truman Scholar, Ohio State Presidential Scholarship Recipient, Ohio State Denman Undergraduate Research First and Third Place Winner, National Merit Finalist, and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi fraternity. Alex has also conducted research with Political Science Professor Ismail White.

This past year, Alex presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting where he discussed his research. Below is a brief introduction to his study:

“Racial healthcare disparities are well documented in the literature. However, little has been done to explore the connection between perception of one’s own racial identity and their usage of the healthcare system. Furthermore, group-identity theory has not been applied to healthcare as a possible explanation for differing patterns of utilization. This project seeks to accomplish two goals – to identify if there is a link between a measure of perception of race and utilization of healthcare, and to explore how social and/or historical characteristics may play a role in that observed pattern.”

After Chaitoff is done with his Master’s program, he plans to return to the United States to pursue a Medical Degree.