Harshman Sihra, a reproductive health advocate planning a future as an OBGYN and public health policymaker, is now the third University of Cincinnati student to win the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
Sihra’s accomplishment is supported by UC’s focus on real-world experience, which allowed him to pursue research and advocacy work which address the unique barriers pregnancy presents for families, including significant efforts related to lowering the infant mortality rate locally.
As a student in the Connections Dual Admissions program, Sihra will be supported by the Truman Scholarship during his MD at UC’s College of Medicine after completing his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with concentrations in medical sciences and sociology, as well as certificates in medical humanities and pre-medicine.
While Sihra looks forward to graduating this year and continuing on to medical school, he admits that the preparation for his award application started at the very beginning.
“I started working with [the Nationally Competitive Awards office] specifically for the Truman since I was a freshman. In that first semester, I knew that the Truman Award was something that spoke to me so much because of my commitment to public service,” Sihra said, adding that his interpretation of public service is action oriented. “I’m a person who doesn’t just sit on the sideline and complain. I’m going to do something.”
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation’s mission is to support new generations of public service leaders with a significant stipend toward graduate studies. Sihra was one of 54 scholars selected from a pool of 743 applicants and from 288 different colleges and universities.
"Harshman’s career at UC clearly demonstrates the public service ideals of the Truman Foundation,” said UC president Neville Pinto, who announced the award to Sihra amid long-time mentors and supporters. “We look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in his final year and as he pursues medical school at UC.”
Truman Scholarship winner Harshman Sihra beams in the support of campus mentors. Photo/Andrew Higley, Creative + Brand
Harshman Sihra, Truman Scholar
Harshman Sihra credits his mother as his inspiration for a career in reproductive health. Photo/provided.
After learning he won the award, Sihra didn’t know who to call first. One of his initial thoughts was previous Truman Scholar Adam Elzarka, who had helped prep Sihra on how to calm his nerves before the finalist interview and represent his unique perspectives.
But ultimately, Sihra called his biggest inspiration—his mom—and introduced her to the Nationally Competitive Awards team that had prepped him for this moment.
Sihra’s interest in reproductive health started with curiosity toward his mother’s pregnancy when he was 11 years old. With his father working abroad at the time, Sihra supported his mother by attending ultrasounds or heading to the ice cream shop to cure cravings. Those moments later motivated him to provide pregnant patients with the same duty of care.
From his very first semester at UC, Sihra became involved with research and work dedicated to improving public health policies and interventions related to pregnancy.
He provided direct physical and emotional support to patients at Planned Parenthood. In 2023, he served as a field organizing fellow for Ohio’s Issue 1. And through the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network, Sihra worked on projects for local non-profit Cradle Cincinnati, which aims to lower the infant mortality rate in Hamilton County.
Sihra also served as a senator-at-large in UC’s undergraduate student government. He later continued this governmental work as a policy and legislative fellow in the Cincinnati mayor’s office, contributing to research on budget policy while drafting and presenting a proposal on how to respond to the city’s infant mortality rates.
The combination of experiences with direct patient contact, policymaking practice and public advocacy is exactly what Sihra hopes to continue in his career. One possibility—pending medical school, training, and a stint as a city physician and primary care gynecologist—is to become a city health commissioner.
But even more than the titles and career paths, Sihra wants to witness healthy outcomes for parents and babies. As he explained, it’s literally music to his ears.
“For me, anytime I’ve seen a birth—and I’ve seen almost 50 births at this point, right—I genuinely hear music,” said Sihra. “I’m chasing the music when it comes to my career, just to be able to hear it every day.”
Featured image at top: Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
The University of Cincinnati prepares our students to make a real-world impact. Learn more about applying for nationally competitive awards.
April 18, 2025
Harshman Sihra, a reproductive health advocate planning a future as an OBGYN and public health policymaker, is now the third University of Cincinnati student to win the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
April 14, 2022
Adam Elzarka is the second University of Cincinnati student to win the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship, in addition to other nationally competitive awards.
October 3, 2022
Samvid Scholarship recognizes Chinmay Bakshi, A&S ’21, as future changemaker after an extraordinary undergraduate career that focused on both research and public service
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2600 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
513-556-0000
© 2025 University of Cincinnati
