Program Overview

Introduction to the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston/Galveston is a non-profit organization that offers students the opportunity to design and implement a health-related community project. This project provides direct service to an underserved population, with the goal of addressing vital local health needs and creating a lasting impact.

Program Details

The program helps students develop lifelong service leadership skills that will enable them to address social determinants of health throughout their careers. Students are paired with mentors, field experts, and community sites to ensure the success of their projects.

Project Examples

Some examples of projects undertaken by Baylor College of Medicine students include:

• Working with minority women in the perinatal period to address maternal stressors and well-being, led by Peter Yun and Soumya Gogia at the Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center.
• Working with families that participate in the Brighter Bites CATCH program to help establish healthier eating and cooking habits, led by Dima Jaraki and Hannah Hongan Chen.
• Working with elderly patients recently discharged from hospitals to promote nutrition and wraparound care through the Meals on Wheels program, led by Catherine Wu at Interfaith Ministries.

Program Impact

The projects undertaken by the Schweitzer Fellows build on the work of previous fellows and introduce new partner agencies to innovative programs. These efforts are dedicated to making important contributions to communities in need. According to Dr. Gabrielle Hansen, who leads the Houston-Galveston area Schweitzer program, the fellows' work is crucial in addressing the health needs of underserved populations, and their commitment to service is expected to make a significant impact.