Posted by by Bruce Wood for Bill Davis on Jun 14, 2024
 
Delighted to have received confirmation from The Rotary Foundation that Gwen Hummel's application for a $39,000 scholarship has been approved. Gwen Hummel is currently a PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine, where she studies the microbiome as a mechanism to prevent preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal death in the world. She is an advocate for including patient voices and participation in research, as well as educating the next generation of scientists. As a first-generation college student, Gwen is familiar with the barriers and challenges that students new to science and medicine face, especially women from rural communities. 
 
Delighted to have received confirmation from The Rotary Foundation this morning that Gwen's application for a $39,000 scholarship has been approved.
 
Gwen Hummel is currently a PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine, where she studies the microbiome as a mechanism to prevent preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal death in the world. She is an advocate for including patient voices and participation in research, as well as educating the next generation of scientists. As a first-generation college student, Gwen is familiar with the barriers and challenges that students new to science and medicine face, especially women from rural communities. 
 
Throughout her academic career, Gwen has supported and mentored students from middle school to the undergraduate level. After receiving her Bachelors from Colorado State University, Gwen pursued a Masters in Assisted Reproductive Technology at the same institution, followed by a research-intensive Masters in Animal Genetics at the University of Wyoming. 
 
Her sponsorship for a Global Grant will allow her to build upon her PhD research at the University of Western Australia, where she will participate in the only clinical trial in the world currently developing a treatment for the prevention of preterm birth using mom's microbiome.
 
Gwen's Rotary Scholarship is funded with $30,000 from Rotary District 5890 in Houston and $9,000 from District 5770 in SW Oklahoma. Gwen has agreed to visit D 5770 in Oklahoma upon her return from Perth.
Gwen's host club will be the R.C. of West Perth in D 9423 in Australia with Steve Wilton as her mentor and International Partner Club is the Lake Houston Area Club in Texas with Bill Davis as her contact .
 
Sincerely,
 
Bill Davis
Rotary Cadre Technical Advisor
The Rotary Foundation 2016-2020
Scholarship Co-Chair D 5890 2016- 2021
Member Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area
Honorary Member R.C. of San Jose de Cucuta, Colombia
Honorary Member of San Jose De CucutaI II, Colombia
Recipient of the Juana Rangel De Cuellar Award in recognition for his essential contribution to the quality of life of the residents of Cucuta presented by Mayor Rodriguez August 22, 2022