Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Announces New Student Leaders

 New Orleans LA - After a highly competitive selection process, 10 local graduate students have been named as Albert Schweitzer Fellows and will be charged with improving the health of people most in need across New Orleans during the coming year.

According to the New Orleans Health Department, residents of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods live an average of 25 years longer than residents of the lowest income communities, which also bear the brunt of more numerous health problems. To help alleviate these disparities, Schweitzer Fellows partner with local organizations to implement projects with lasting impact, such as the health clinic at the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter developed in 2015 by past Fellows Hunter Hopkins and Samantha Karlin that continues to this day.

The ten new Fellows are: From Louisiana State University: dental student Valentina Carrillo will promote oral health at Luke’s House Clinic, medical student Nicole Dominique will partner with the National Alliance of Mental Illness New Orleans to serve the mental health needs of the local homeless population, medical and public health student Nikka Khorsandi will develop a consumer advisory council for 504HealthNet, a network of local health clinics, and medical and public health student Jessica Seay will implement a program to improve communication and coping skills for students at KIPP Renaissance High School in partnership with Fellow Katelyn Wren. From Tulane University: medical and public health student Emily Fiore will organize wound care for homeless people who inject drugs, medical student Scott Sabo and medical and public health student Riley Santiago will expand access to HIV testing and education, and public health student Alexandria Van Dall will provide parenting education for inmates at Orleans Parish Prison. From Xavier University College of Pharmacy: Ha’reanna Campbell will educate students at Hahnville High School about drug use and Katelyn Wren will partner with Fellow Jessica Seay to address adolescent mental health.

The 2019 Fellows join the ranks of over 4,000 Schweitzer alumni across the United States (known as “Fellows for Life”) who are committed to creating systemic change in health care and human services.

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship – New Orleans is non-profit organization dedicated to developing a corps of emerging professionals who enter the workforce with the skills and commitment necessary to address unmet health needs. For more information, visit http://www.schweitzerfellowship.org/chapters/neworleans/.