BALTIMORE ALBERT SCHWEITZER FELLOWS PROGRAM

As a way of fostering Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s legacy of service for the underserved, the Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program provides service opportunities and support for students in health and human-service graduate schools who seek to help those currently in the Baltimore community who are underserved.  Since 1999, The Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program has provided almost 200 Baltimore area graduate students the opportunity to carry out health-related community service projects in the local area. 

The Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program is a yearlong fellowship program open to all Baltimore are students enrolled in a degree program in health and human-service fields including schools of medicine, nursing, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, social work, and law as well as such disciplines in health care administration and counseling psychology.  Since its inception in 1999, fellows have come from the Johns Hopkins University, Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing and the University of Maryland Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Social Work and Law and the College of Notre Dame Geriatric Program.

Fellows have worked to provide services ranging from developing college preparation and application programs for high school students, creating a computer center for the Hispanic population to learn how to use computers as well as English as a second language as well as legal service workshops on housing, employment, domestic violence, and benefits.  In addition fellows have developed partnership programs with pregnant teens and HIV positive children and adolescents and currently are developing a free primary care clinic in East Baltimore. 

Fellows design their own service project and work with an existing community agency to address the unmet needs of the community.  Applicants submit original proposals for projects that support the national public health agenda set by Healthy People 2010.  We seek candidates who can best reflect Dr. Schweitzer's ethic of Reverence for Life and his insistence that "my life is my argument."    

The Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program Advisory Board, with representatives from the faculty of graduate programs, program alumni, and leadership from community-based organizations and the Baltimore community provide oversight and guidance to this program as well as help raise funds locally to support the program.

ACTIVITIES OF THE FELLOWS
Service Project: Each Schweitzer Fellow performs a community service project of at least 200 hours of direct service that is beyond any course requirement.

Public Outreach: Each Fellow works in a small group to organize an outreach activity that may take the form of a public symposia or group service activity.  In some cases fellows have organized other activities such as a week of service in lieu of a symposium.

Monthly Meetings: Fellows are required to attend all monthly meetings.  Monthly meetings provide the Fellows with interdisciplinary discussions, time for reflection on community service, and an opportunity to network with professionals in service professions. Fellows form teams at the beginning of the fellowship to plan and schedule monthly meetings designed to build skills in community service.

School Presentations/Recruitment of Potential Fellows: Each Fellow is expected to make a presentation at his or her school to familiarize other students with community service and the Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program.

Final Reports: Upon completion of their projects, Fellows submit a written final report. The Fellowship provides guidelines for writing up this report.

Stipend:  Each Schweitzer Fellow or Project receives a standard stipend of $2000.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Mary L. Leach, Program Director
Senior Advisor to the President
Baltimore Schweitzer Fellows Program
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Saratoga Building, 220 N. Arch Street, 14th floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
T: 410-706-7004
dl-schweitzer@umaryland.edu

Bob Kirk, Program Coordinator
T: 410-706-0611
dl-schweitzer@umaryland.edu