Albert Schweitzer (left) at French Equatorial Africa, 1957 (Photo credit, UAB Archives)
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship today announced the selection of its inaugural class of Alabama Schweitzer Fellows, including 11 graduate students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The students will spend the next year learning to effectively address the social factors that impact health and developing lifelong leadership skills. In doing so, they will follow the example set by famed physician-humanitarian Albert Schweitzer, for whom the Fellowship is named.
“We are extremely proud of our inaugural class of Schweitzer Fellows. There was great interest in the program, and we are excited to see what our talented students accomplish over the next 12 months,” said Kristin Boggs, director of the Alabama chapter of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. “We are confident that the Alabama Schweitzer program will make a lasting impact on the health of communities in and around Birmingham, as our Fellows first learn to serve and support vulnerable people in living healthier lives, and then take those skills with them as they establish themselves professionally as leaders in their fields.”
School of Dentistry
Aissatou Barry-Blocker
School of Medicine
Sushma Boppana
Shima Dowla
David Osula
Taylor Pope
Sarah Teitell
Dustin Whitaker
School of Nursing
Deborah Bowers
School of Public Health
Ashley (A.T.) Helix
Rachel Stokes
The Alabama Fellows will join approximately 240 other 2016-17 Schweitzer Fellows working at program sites around the United States, as well as one in Lambaréné, Gabon, at the site of The Albert Schweitzer Hospital, founded by Schweitzer in 1913. Upon completion of their Fellowship year, the 2016-17 Alabama Schweitzer Fellows will become Schweitzer Fellows for Life and join a vibrant network of more than 3,200 Schweitzer alumni who are committed to addressing the health needs of underserved people throughout their careers.