Nine medical students from Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine are among 23 new Schweitzer Fellows from New Hampshire and Vermont. Working under the guidance of Geisel faculty advisor Andrew Loehrer, MD, an associate professor of surgery, Schweitzer Fellows will work together with members of the local community to develop sustainable, evidence-based projects that address health disparities.
“We have a group of incredibly collaborative and thoughtful Fellows this year,” says Nancy Gabriel, director of the NH/VT Schweitzer Fellowship. “This year’s Geisel Fellows are following their passion and collaborating with community partners to create innovative initiatives, including providing foot care for the unhoused at a local library, creating wellness activities and support to new moms, and integrating health information into ESL (English as a second language) classes for asylum seekers and refugees.”
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship is a national program that confronts the nation’s most pressing health disparities by cultivating a network of visionary humanitarian leaders who are driven by Albert Schweitzer’s Reverence for Life. The Fellowship has 10 chapters throughout the country and provides opportunities for about 250 Fellows annually.
Upon completion of their Fellowship year, participants will become Schweitzer Fellows for Life and join a network of 4,000+ Schweitzer alumni who are skilled in, and committed to, deeply and collaboratively addressing the health needs of under-resourced communities throughout their careers.
This year’s Geisel Schweitzer Fellows, all members of the MD Class of ‘28, and their service projects and community partners:
Sarah Lange and Clare Boldt
Community Partner: Good Beginnings in Lebanon
Lange and Boldt are working to support new mothers in the Upper Valley by enhancing access to postpartum resources through digitalization and evidence-based wellness initiatives. By creating short, accessible videos on mental health, physical recovery, nutrition, and skin health, they aim to provide new parents with flexible tools to support their well-being. They are also passionate about integrating creative activities to promote self-expression and connection, ensuring that mothers feel supported while addressing gaps in postpartum care, particularly in rural communities.
Jiaxin Jessica He
Community Partner: Kilton Public Library
He aims to establish a pop-up foot care clinic in Lebanon in partnership with Kilton Library, using the accessibility of local libraries to connect with unhoused folks. By providing essential foot care, distributing resources, and building trust, the initiative seeks to support often-overlooked foot health needs and connect folks to a long-term continuum of care.
Michael Zhang and LiJing (Austin) Lin
Community Partner: Hartford Restorative Justice Center
Zhang and Lin are working to strengthen reentry support for recently incarcerated individuals by establishing a structured process that connects them with healthcare and volunteer opportunities. They plan to create a step-by-step reentry guide and provide one-on-one assistance to connect clients with state and federal aid applications, community service opportunities, physical examinations, and mental health support.
Skyler Rad and Nick Ollila
Community Partners: Visions for Creative Housing Solutions
Rad and Ollila’s project is focused on helping adults with developmental disabilities navigate challenging conversations. Their program will feature a series of classes aimed at improving life skills, covering topics such as mental health, sexual education, and internet safety. Through education, they aim to instill confidence and promote self-advocacy amongst the residents of Visions.
Ahalya Ramesh and Ethan Ho
Community Partner: SHARe (Supporting and Helping Asylees and Refugees)
Ramesh and Ho aim to enhance health literacy among refugees and immigrants in the Upper Valley by integrating health education into existing ESL classes through a partnership with SHARe. As healthcare liaisons, they will provide tailored health education that breaks down cultural and linguistic barriers, improves healthcare navigation, and empowers refugees to engage effectively with their healthcare providers, leading to better health outcomes.
