In April Elizabeth Caldwell, genetics major and National Scholar, was named a 2024 Truman Scholar, recognized for her commitment to raising accessibility awareness and ambition to influence health care policy related to her rare disease research.
The Truman Scholarship, named in honor of the late U.S. President Harry S. Truman, is given to high-achieving college students who show commitment to public service and potential to continue that service beyond graduation.
Elizabeth is Clemson’s fifth recipient of the Truman Scholarship in 42 years and is the only student in South Carolina to receive the honor this year. She will receive up to $30,000 for graduate study, leadership training, career counseling and other opportunities within the federal government.
Originally from Hendersonville, TN, Elizabeth has been involved with the Accessibility Commission, Phi Delta Epsilon, the ASC Peer Tutoring Program, and the Clinical Undergraduate Research Experience in Surgery (CURES) course. In addition, she co-founded Tigers 4 Accessibility, Clemson’s only club that focuses on students with disabilities. Their mission is to increase inclusivity and accessibility on campus and within the greater Clemson community.
After falling in love with research while working in Dr. Michael Sehorn’s lab, Elizabeth decided to pursue a Dual Departmental Honors in G&B to culminate her research experiences into a thesis and solidify her findings. She hopes to integrate research into her future career as a physician and the departmental honors program has allowed her to build the skills necessary to succeed.
After graduation, Elizabeth plans to pursue an MD/MPH to intersect her passion for patient care, disability advocacy, and research, making a positive change in healthcare.
Read more in the Clemson News article.
