2025 OIBR Rising Star Announced
We are delighted to announce the recipient of the 2025 OIBR Rising Star Award, Dr. Soroya McFarlane, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, for her exceptional scholarly achievements and promising trajectory in research.
The OIBR Rising Star Award celebrates the remarkable scholarly achievements and future potential of an OIBR Distinguished Scholar or Affiliate within eight years of earning their Ph.D. This award recognizes individuals who consistently demonstrate excellence in research and show a promising trajectory for making impactful contributions.
Dr. McFarlane’s work centers on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. Despite being in the early stages of her academic career, she has made remarkable progress in advancing this critical area of study. She leads an interdisciplinary team developing The THRIVE Project—a scalable, multimedia online learning platform designed to bridge gaps in health communication, advocacy, and education for Black women and their families.
This initiative represents a powerful example of translational research in action, bringing evidence-based, multimedia communication strategies directly to communities historically marginalized by the healthcare system.