History
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) was founded in 1940 to support Dr. Albert Schweitzer's hospital in Africa. The U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Program was launched in 1991 with the mission to support and train emerging health-focused graduate and professional students in creating and carrying out service projects to address unmet community needs. At the end of their yearlong project, Fellows join the Schweitzer Fellows for Life alumni network, now more than 2,000 strong.
The Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows Program is one of multiple ASF Programs located across the U.S. Since 2011, the Columbus-Athens Program has supported students who are dedicated to improving the health and lives of Ohioans in our communities and whose example influences and inspires others.
Fellows
Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows are graduate or professional students from a degree-granting academic institution in Ohio and are selected through a competitive application process. Selected fellows receive a stipend of $3,000 to carry out a year-long community engagement project in close collaboration with a community-based organization. Each project commits to at least 200 service hours, of which at least 100 hours involve direct community-facing contact. Fellows attend an orientation and monthly meetings and participate in reflective leadership development programming.
Goals
- To provide skilled and compassionate direct services that enhance the health of Ohioans and which further the aims of the community agency partner organization;
- To support and train emerging professional leaders in ways that strengthen their commitment to, and skills in, public service; and
- To develop a pipeline of emerging professions with the capacity to effect change within our communities to improve the health of all Ohioans.