APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The Pittsburgh Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program (PSFP) is a one-year interdisciplinary fellowship program focused on community service and leadership development.  Students must be enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate academic program during their Fellowship year that culminates in the granting of a professional degree in a health or related field including: medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, social work, or law.

In addition to the four overall goals of the U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Programs, the Pittsburgh Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program aims to help Fellows:

• improve skills used for working with communities, including: approaches to community work, community outreach, community building, networking, publicity, fundraising, and advocacy;

• gain exposure to the impact of health disparities and health policies on local communities;

• learn about other health-related professions;

• improve overall capabilities for leadership in service;

• and participate in a voluntary network of over 1,700 Fellows for Life who seek to include service in their personal and professional lives.

Required Activities of Fellows
Orientation:  Fellows must attend an orientation DATE, 2009.

Service Project: Each Fellow designs and carries out a health-related community service project of at least 200 hours in collaboration with a local community agency. Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The 200 hours is separate from any school course requirement.

Reports & Evaluations:  Fellows submit monthly one-page reports about their activities, a written final report, and an evaluation about the Fellowship experience.

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.

Public Outreach: Each Fellow works in a small group to organize an outreach activity that may take the form of a public symposium or a group service activity.

Recruitment: In the fall, Fellows organize an information session on the PSFP and present on their Fellowship experience at their schools.

Other Fellowship Activities:  Several times a year, Fellows are invited to ASF events featuring Board members, ASF guests, and donors.

Stipend: Fellows receive a stipend of $2,000, distributed in three payments throughout the Fellowship year.

The community service projects of Schweitzer Fellows should aim to provide direct service to an underserved population in our local area, eliminate health disparities, and improve quality of life.  The majority of the service hours must be spent in face to face contact with the population you are serving.  Research, fundraising, and policy based projects are not considered eligible. Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” 

For project ideas, you may use local public health agendas and the nation’s public health agenda, Health People 2010, www.healthypeople.gov.  Please view our list of past Fellows’ projects and agencies for ideas, but be creative in developing your proposal. You may build upon, but not simply duplicate, a past project. Or, you may choose to develop a totally unique project in keeping with Dr. Schweitzer’s directive that everyone should find their own Lambaréné, their own special place to serve. In your proposal, please be specific about your exact role in the project as you foresee it, your short and long-term goals for the project, and any unique contributions you feel you can bring to the existing project or to the agency.

APPLICATION
Fellows will be selected on the basis of their completed application, their service commitment, and their ability to articulate ideas and goals related to their role in addressing unmet community needs. Additionally, we consider references, quality and feasibility of the proposed direct service project, and personal qualities. Special consideration will be given to project ideas that address Healthy People 2010 goals, health disparities, and HIV/AIDS. 

An application is made by submitting the following information in typewritten format:
Resume
Indicate all relevant work history including community service and volunteer experience. In addition, include your mailing address, telephone number, and an e-mail address.

Personal Statement
In one page or less, explain why you want to serve as a Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellow and how the Fellowship experience will complement your long-term career goals.

Project or Area of Interest
In one page or less, discuss a population you would like to serve, the unmet needs that you feel exist, and potential community agencies that may serve as your host site. The Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program may be used as a resource to help you identify a community service site and potential project ideas.

References
List three references including name, title, address, and telephone number. At least one reference must be a faculty member from your school or a professional in your intended field of practice who will serve as your academic mentor for the Fellowship year. Include a letter from this individual stating his or her agreement to serve as your academic mentor.

Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your application. After receipt and review of each application, a response will be returned to you either indicating that the application is complete, or specifying what additional items are needed.

Selection Process and Announcement
Selected applicants will be invited to a personal interview in the month of March. Fellows will be announced by April 1st. The Fellowship year begins in April 2009.

The application deadline for the 2008-09 Fellowship year has passed. 
To apply for the 2009-10 PSFP, please check back in fall 2008.

For more information contact:
Joan Haley, Program Director
Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program
c/o Southwest PA AHEC
5614 Elgin Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15206
T: 412-363-0185 x-26 F: 412-363-5084
jhaley@southwestahec.org