Students Work on City's Health Disparities
Eight Tulane graduate students studying in medicine or public health are among the 2011-12 class of New Orleans Albert Schweitzer Fellows who will spend the next year developing leadership skills while addressing health disparities throughout the city.
New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows have delivered more than 4,000 hours of direct service to vulnerable people since 2007.
Joining approximately 250 other 2011-12 Schweitzer Fellows throughout the United States, these New Orleans fellows will partner with community organizations to develop mentored service projects that address the social determinants of health. The program is named in honor of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
⢠Tasnim Beg will provide yoga at the Youth Drop-in Center to improve the health and quality of life of youth experiencing homelessness.
⢠Jennifer Farrell and Gabriela Magda aim to promote leadership and healthy decision-making by designing and implementing a community health leadership program at Walter L. Cohen High School.
⢠Dominique Jodry will train adolescent girls in New Orleans public schools to act as peer leaders in their community, addressing issues of sexual and reproductive health, as well as violence and coercion in relationships.
⢠Devika Nair will partner with the New Orleans chapter of Volunteers of America to create a vocation-based mentoring program for children living in underserved communities.
⢠Gina Sequeira will work on an education and training program that equips patients and healthcare providers with the tools to address needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
⢠Nicholas Somerville will work to reduce the risk of HIV and hepatitis C among injection drug users by expanding and sustaining the New Orleans Syringe Access Program.
⢠Carl Woodward will work to reduce youth violence by implementing a family-based mentorship model in Central City.
Upon completion of their initial year, the students will become Schweitzer Fellows for Life and join a network of more than 2,000 Schweitzer alumni who are committed to addressing the health needs of underserved people. Since 2007, New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows have delivered more than 4,000 hours of service to the community.
