Driven by a strong commitment to health equity while pursuing their own passions, Geisel School of Medicine’s 2026 – 2027 Schweitzer Fellows are collaborating with local partners to develop sustainable, evidence-based projects that address health disparities in Upper Valley communities.
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. With 10 chapters nationally, it provides opportunities for annual 250 fellows.
When their yearlong fellowship ends, participants become Schweitzer Fellows for Life and join a network of more than 4,000 alumni who are skilled in and committed to collaboratively addressing the health needs of under-resourced communities throughout their careers.
Outgoing fellow Jess He MED’28, says of her experience, “One of the biggest things I learned is that a meaningful part of community engagement is simply showing up consistently and allowing people to engage at their own pace. I learned that trust cannot be rushed, and that not every interaction needs to lead to a major intervention to still matter.”
This year, nine medical students from Geisel School of Medicine are among the 23 new Schweitzer Fellows from New Hampshire and Vermont. This year’s Fellows are all members of the MD Class of ’29.
Working under the guidance of Geisel faculty advisor Andrew Loehrer, an associate professor of surgery, this year's projects include improving access to fresh foods for veterans, expanding a mentorship program for immigrant and refugee youth, and supporting social and emotional regulation in elementary-age children.
Read about this year’s Geisel fellows and their projects below:
Arpie Bakhshian and Hannah Kim
Arpie and Hannah's project will introduce children experiencing housing instability and food insecurity to foundational musical experiences, including singing, basic rhythm patterns, and collaborative music-making, with an emphasis on creativity, enjoyment, and participation. They aim to support creative expression through music, recognizing its powerful role in nurturing emotional, cognitive, and social development, and helping children thrive. Community Partner: Upper Valley Haven
Katherine Walther and Gretchen Carpenter
Gretchen and Katie aim to enhance community connection and nutritional support at the LISTEN Community Dining Hall. Through structured programming, they will foster social engagement among guests, while also providing menu support and accessible nutrition resources to strengthen informed food choices. This project builds on LISTEN's existing work to support both social well-being and nutrition. Community Partner: LISTEN Community Dining Hall
Ashley Raman and Anaeli Sandoval
Ashley and Anaeli are working to strengthen a food-as-medicine program for rural veterans through the Veggies for Vets program. They will focus on making produce boxes more customizable to better meet veterans' needs, addressing the barriers that prevent some individuals from picking up boxes every week, and increasing the capacity of the program. They aim to help more veterans consistently access fresh food and improve overall health and well-being, and plan to organize community-building events to foster peer support. Community Partner: White River Junction VA (Veggies for Vets)
Aparna Krishnan and Ronit Gupta
Ronit and Aparna are developing a sustainable afterschool enrichment program to introduce high school students to healthcare careers and health technology through hands-on learning and community-based experiences. By fostering scientific literacy, exposure to data-driven medical research, and opportunities for peer mentorship, they aim to empower students in rural areas to envision futures in healthcare while cultivating a shared commitment to health equity. Community Partner: Lebanon High School
Moreen Ng
Moreen is collaborating with Upper Valley Smiles, a school-based dental program, to provide fluoride varnish application and oral health education in elementary schools. By delivering these services directly in school settings, this project aims to increase access to quality dental care and promote lifelong healthy oral hygiene habits among children in the Upper Valley. Community Partner: Alice Peck Day Hospital's Upper Valley (UV) Smiles