USD Hahn School of Nursing's Dr. Milo Receives $500,000 Grant to Address Mental Health in the Filipino Community

The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of San Diego is pleased to announce that Razel B. Milo, PhD, DNP, FNP-C, distinguished faculty member, has been recognized as a "Prebys Research Hero." A substantial grant of $500,000 has been awarded to her to continue her innovative research.

 Dr. Milo, an associate professor and practicing family nurse practitioner, has been awarded a grant to study and address the stigma surrounding mental health within the Filipino community. Specifically, the research studies how perceived well-being and stress relate to mental health outcomes among Filipinos.

 The Prebys Foundation has launched a $7 million initiative in partnership with the Science Philanthropy Alliance and Open Impact to promote diversity and innovation in medical research. This initiative aims to lower the underrepresentation of women and other underrepresented groups in leading research positions. As part of this initiative, the grant will be used to close the representation gap in medical research.

 Dr. Milo, along with fellow USD faculty member Cynthia D. Connelly, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Maria Luisa Ramira, DNP, FNP-C from the Philippine Nurses Association of San Diego, will use the funds for a two-year period. This work demonstrates USD's commitment to promoting a diverse research environment that directly benefits the community's welfare.

 Grant Oliphant, CEO of the Prebys Foundation, highlights the significance of initiatives like this. He points out that even though 80% of postdoctoral researchers are women, only a small fraction of them lead their own research projects. As a way to address this disparity, the program empowers exceptional researchers like Dr. Milo to research critical health issues in groundbreaking ways.

 Over the past 15 years, Dr. Milo has made significant contributions toward addressing health disparities, particularly in communities of color, through numerous publications and community engagement. Her research focuses on understanding the root causes of health disparities and developing strategies to address them.

 You can learn more about Dr. Milo's team's impactful work at USD's Hahn School of Nursing by visiting their website at sandiego.edu/nursing.