Guillot-Wright receives Beasley Award for Research Efforts to Improve Health of Commercial Fishing Populations
Guillot-Wright, PhD is recognized for her extensive and impactful research in increasing health care access for those working in the commercial fishing industry
Congratulations to the 2026 R. Palmer Beasley Award for Innovation, Shannon Guillot-Wright, PhD who is recognized for her extensive and impactful research in increasing health care access for those working in the commercial fishing industry. Through the Docside Clinics: Connecting Docs to Docks, a mobile clinic that offers health services and resources to commercial fisherman, Guillot-Wright has provided over 2,000 encounters and meets these vulnerable populations where they are.
For nearly a decade, Guillot-Wright has focused her research on the unique challenges faced by waterfront workers along the Gulf Coast and Caribbean—many of whom are immigrants, low-income, and employed in one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. Commercial fishing workers often face barriers to healthcare, housing insecurity, lack of paid leave, and hazardous working conditions.
“The Docside Clinic started because the fishing community asked for it during our research process. It’s a powerful reminder that innovation often happens because we listen and respond to the people we work alongside,” said Guillot-Wright when reflecting on the award.
Guillot-Wright’s work has also created meaningful educational opportunities for students and trainees. Since 2021, dozens of public health students and medical residents have participated through practicums, research projects, volunteer service, and clinical rotations.
In addition to direct service, her scholarship has generated national attention. Her article, The Hotel of 10,000 Stars, published in the American Journal of Public Health, inspired a documentary project supported by Humanities Texas to amplify the voices and experiences of fishing communities. “I am always inspired by hearing people's stories, and I believe that the best way to tell someone’s story is to let them tell it themselves,” she said.
This award recognizes Guillot-Wright’s exceptional ability to combine research, community partnership, and innovation to improve lives while advancing health access.
The R. Palmer Beasley, MD Faculty Award for Innovation is an endowment at UTHealth Houston established with a philanthropic gift from Palmer Beasley, MD in 2012. Beasley served as dean of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health from 1987 to 2004. Beasley, internationally recognized for his research on the causal link between the hepatitis B virus and liver cancer, dedicated his career to epidemiology, public health leadership, and global health research and training. The endowment supports awards to faculty members whose work crafts innovative research and supports the school’s mission to advance public health.