2023-24 Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program
February 1, 2023
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Calendar
Download iCal FileThe Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program requests your help with inviting outstanding graduate students in health, social service, and public interest professions to apply for the 2023-24 Schweitzer Fellowship. Since we launched the Schweitzer Program in 1996, over 700 Fellows have designed and directed innovative projects to help vulnerable communities throughout Chicago improve their health and well-being while strengthening their own skills and confidence as aspiring professionals and leaders in service. To date, Schweitzer Fellows have provided over 150,000 hours of direct service, and they have helped nearly 200 health centers, social service agencies, schools, community organizations and nonprofits in the city and suburbs expand their capacities to help the underserved. Our website highlights current Fellows' projects designed to address a diversity of community health needs. Other elements of our Schweitzer Program are designed to inspire, inform and support the Fellows. These include a strong mentoring structure, monthly meetings, ongoing opportunities for networking and interprofessional collaboration, and a $2,750 annual stipend. Information is also available online. The application deadline is February 1, 2023.
Eligibility: Any student who will be enrolled at least part-time in a health-related, graduate-level-degree-granting program during the Fellowship year is welcome to apply. Please note that two exceptions to this are medical and podiatry students who will be entering their third year of medical school. Medical and podiatry students who will be in their first, second, or fourth year during the Fellowship year are eligible.
Prior to Applying: Prospective Fellows should be prepared to partner with an existing community agency to design and implement a community service project that provides a direct service to an underserved population. Interested students should investigate and reflect on the strengths and assets of the community they hope to partner with, and the unmet health-related needs that exist in Chicago and its surrounding communities. Applicants might reflect on ways their own energies and talents might contribute to change. In proposing a project, applications should keep in mind how their idea leverages the community’s strengths, addresses 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 2030, please visit: healthypeople.gov
Application Guidelines: Applicants should be creative in developing their application. They may choose to develop an original project proposal or they may propose the continuation of a project initiated by a previous Schweitzer Fellow. Keep in mind that research, administrative, fundraising, and policy-based projects are not considered eligible projects. Applicants may find inspiration in reviewing past Fellows’ projects and partnering agencies, and a Community Site Guide of over 150 Chicago-area community-based organizations that would welcome a Fellow is available upon request.
Interested students are encouraged to contact Karol Dean (kdean@hmprg.org).
Date posted
Sep 23, 2022
Date updated
Sep 23, 2022