April 21, 2025
Tristan Jafari, biochemistry undergrad, selected as Truman Scholar
Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the University of Washington majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master’s degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall.
A highly competitive award, only 54 students were selected nationwide this year from more than 743 nominations. The Truman Scholarship recognizes aspiring leaders driven to make change at the systems level. Students are selected on the basis of leadership skills, demonstrated civic engagement, academic potential and a desire to pursue a career in public service. Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate school, mentoring and additional benefits to help prepare them for careers where they can make an impact.
President Cauce surprised biochemistry major Tristan Jafari in Ed Taylor’s office with news he’s UW’s 20th Truman Scholar. Jafari, also a Gates Cambridge Scholar, heads to the University of Cambridge this fall.Photo by Jayden Becles
“The University of Washington is incredibly proud for Tristan to be honored with the prestigious Truman Scholarship,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. “It is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding undergraduate work in biochemistry and his achievements inside and outside the classroom to improve people’s health and well-being. We can’t wait to see how he will change the world with his talent and passion for global public health.”
“I am honored to have been selected as the Truman Scholar from Washington state,” Jafari said. “This recognition deeply motivates me to continue pursuing my passion for public service in medicine.”Photo by Jayden Becles
Jafari is a founder and chief of the University of Washington Emergency Medical Services (UWEMS), the first campus-based EMS service in the state of Washington. UWEMS is now a team of nearly 30 undergraduate EMTs who respond to 9-1-1 medical calls on the UW campus in coordination with the Seattle Fire Department. Since its launch, UWEMS has cut emergency response times in half and has provided hundreds of free CPR and overdose response certifications to members of the University community.
Jafari is one of the founders of the University of Washington Emergency Medical Service, the first collegiate-based EMS agency in Washington State.Photo provided by UWEMS
The idea for UWEMS was conceived in the summer of 2023, during Jafari’s first year, and was implemented after nearly two years of development. He played a key role in authoring the pilot proposal, securing over $60,000 in grant funding to fully finance the program, and helping to design and implement the agency. Jafari was awarded the UW Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship twice in support of his work.
“I’m incredibly excited to pursue programs and a career where I can integrate clinical care and public health leadership,” said Jafari. “I particularly look forward to meeting other Truman scholars and alumni in a diverse set of fields, from whom I’m certain I will gain valuable perspectives.”
Born in Oklahoma City, OK, and raised in the Pacific Northwest town of Mukilteo, Washington, Jafari grew up at the intersection of multiple cultures. His parents are Iranian by birth, grew up in Germany and eventually made their way to the United States. As dual citizens of both the U.S. and Germany, the family speaks a mix of English, German and Farsi at home. This multilingual, multicultural environment shaped Jafari’s early understanding of identity and laid the foundation for a global perspective on health. Jafari was also recently selected for the competitive Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
Jafari expresses deep gratitude to his mentors and professors, including Mr. Eric Timm, Mr. Patrick Bi, Dr. Charlie Barrows, Dr. Hannah Jordt, Dr. Daniel Roberts, Dr. Inma Velasco, Dr. Mauricio Dorfman, and Dr. Josh Thaler. He also thanks his friends and family for their unwavering encouragement.
About the Truman Scholarship
Established by Congress in 1975 as a memorial to President Harry S. Truman and national monument to public service, the Truman Scholarship carries the legacy of the 33rd President of the U.S. by supporting and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders.
When approached by a bipartisan group of admirers near the end of his life, Truman asked Congress to create a living memorial devoted to this purpose, rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar monument. For more than 40 years, the Truman Foundation has fulfilled its mission to inspire and support Americans from diverse backgrounds to public service.
This year’s awardees join a community of 3,618 Truman Scholars named since the first awards in 1977. Jafari is the 20th UW student to receive a Truman Scholarship since the award’s inception, according to the Truman Foundation.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Truman Scholarship application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.