Make Your Life Your Argument!

The New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows Program, a program of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship™ with partnership from the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) provides service opportunities and support for aspiring health professionals who seek to help the underserved in New Orleans.  With the generous help of contributors, the New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows Program proudly announces its third year of uniting a diverse range of students, faculty, and community-based providers who share a commitment to public service.

In the spring of 2010, approximately 15 New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows will be selected from applications submitted by students in a diversity of fields, including but not limited to medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, social work, psychology, pharmacy, education, physical therapy, law, nutrition, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music, and acupuncture.  We seek Fellows from an array of disciplines to contribute to the health of our communities.

Fellowship projects include the following:

• a minimum of 200 hours of direct service through an existing community based organization in the New Orleans area;

• a supervisor, or Site Mentor, at the host organization and a Faculty Mentor at the student’s school;

• monthly progress reports on the Fellow’s project;

• a written report at the conclusion of the project, including recommendations for ways in which the most valuable aspects of the Fellow’s project and experiences can be replicated or sustained;
• professional development in skills related to working with underserved communities;

• an opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary group of students committed to working in underserved communities.

In addition to the service project, Fellows work in groups to organize public symposia on pertinent public health topics or community service outreach activities.  Fellows are required to attend monthly meetings, all symposia and service days, an introductory meeting on April 16^th, 2010, a weekend orientation May 22-23^rd, 2010, a mid-year retreat, and the annual Schweitzer Fellows Celebration Event in May 2011.

Students are welcome to submit proposals for an original project that reflects Dr. Schweitzer’s ethic of Reverence for Life or for the continuation of a project initiated by a previous Schweitzer Fellow.

Fellows receive a stipend of $2,500 (paid in three installments) both to underscore the seriousness of their work and to ensure that students who are already struggling financially are not discouraged from participating. Any student enrolled at least part-time for the 2010-2011 academic year in a graduate-level-degree-granting program in the New Orleans area is welcome to apply.   Applications are due via online submission by 5pm February 5^th, 2010.

Eligibility:

Prior to Applying: Interested students should investigate and reflect on the unmet health-related needs that exist in New Orleans and its communities and on the ways in which their own energies and talents might contribute, even in small ways, to ameliorating one or more of these problems. In proposing a project, keep in mind how your idea addresses those unmet health needs and might be of enduring value to the community. For guidance on national and local health priorities as established by Healthy People 2010, please visit: http://www.healthypeople.gov

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend information sessions about the Schweitzer Fellowship at their Universities and visit the program website at: www.schweitzerfellowship.org

For more information, or to set up an information session at your school, please email SchweitzerNOLA@gmail.com or contact Holly Scheib, the New Orleans Schweitzer Program Director at 504-208-7368.