University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
The Dr. Theresa Tran and Bill Carapucci Schweitzer Fellows, and The Anne-Laure and Steve Stephens Schweitzer Fellow

Project Match aims to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes among pregnant people of color in Houston by empowering them with knowledge and tools to achieve healthy pregnancies, births, and postpartum periods. This year, the program seeks to expand its reach by increasing participant numbers and establishing new community partnerships. 

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact jali@cougarnet.uh.edu, aduque@cougarnet.uh.edu, or cjculver@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine

The Postpartum Education Program partners with the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center- Temple to provide childbirth classes for moms receiving Medicaid and WIC services. Bates aims to empower these women to take control of their postpartum journeys and persevere through the challenges of breastfeeding.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact rachel.bates@bcm.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Juneja, Parikh, and John are addressing maternal health in Harris County, Houston, through a comprehensive program focused on prenatal and postpartum education to improve health literacy. This initiative, primarily based within the Harris Health System, serves underserved and vulnerable populations. The program aims to significantly and sustainably improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes by providing personalized education and resource referrals and creating general stand-alone resources.​

This project will be continued outside of the Fellowship as a student-led program.

Baylor College of Medicine
Harris County Asset Forfeiture Fund Schweitzer Fellow

Rashdan aims to improve health outcomes through sustainable lifestyle modifications. The program will incorporate physical activity, meditation, and nutrition education to improve perceived levels of stress, symptoms of depression, physical health status, and self-efficacy for nutrition.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact sarah.rashdan@bcm.edu.

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, UTMB School of Public And Population Health

Grub Club is a dietary and lifestyle education program aimed at the youth of Galveston Urban Ministries and the Galveston Only Farmers Market. Through this program, the team aspires to address food insecurity and empower the local youth. By offering nutrition education, facilitating meal preparation sessions, and organizing activities that encourage long-term health, they hope to drive meaningful change. 

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact ibaly@utmb.edu, eyjeong@utmb.edu, or mazachar@utmb.edu.

University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

FitCuney Homes aims to illuminate and address the barriers and enablers to physical activity in Houston’s oldest and largest federally subsidized housing complex, Cuney Homes. The project seeks to gather insights directly from residents and community stakeholders to inform and adapt physical activity interventions for a healthier and thriving Cuney Homes.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mmendo31@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
The Sue Smith and Craig Brown Schweitzer Fellow, and The Robert Gondo and Jaewon Kang Schweitzer Fellow

Trejo Corona and Miranda aim to address food insecurity and chronic health disparities by facilitating access to fresh, locally sourced foods at no cost for low-income residents through a neighborhood produce program at Finca Tres Robles, a non-profit farm in Houston’s historic East End. This project seeks to add and analyze health metrics and qualitative data to clarify programming impact, engage with the families served by providing nutritional knowledge, and demonstrate the impact of sustainable, community-based solutions aimed at optimizing health outcomes and reducing disparities.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact brianna.miranda@bcm.edu or stephanie.trejocorona@bcm.edu.

Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine

Desai and Isbell are addressing adolescent nutrition at YES Prep Fifth Ward by teaching weekly after-school cooking classes. Nourish aims to empower students with the knowledge and skills to eat healthy at home, providing a stable and supportive environment for students to safely learn how to cook nutritious meals, grow their confidence, and inspire healthier food choices.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact purvi.desai@tamu.edu or reagangi@tamu.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine

Hawkins and Karagoli are partnering with YES Prep Public Schools to facilitate after-school cooking classes and teach at-risk students valuable cooking skills, nutrition, and food safety. Through hands-on learning, their goal is to grow children’s confidence and inspire them to make sustainable and healthier food choices.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact madeline.hawkins@bcm.edu and zena.karagoli@bcm.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine – Texas Children’s Hospital (Schweitzer Scholar)

Dr. Donatti and Dr. Pendergrass are addressing the power of nutrition and healthy relationships with food by establishing a student-led awareness campaign and participation program within a selected YES Prep School in the local Houston community. In addition to educating on disordered eating patterns promoted by social media and the dangers of “diet culture,” the intervention will highlight the importance of the mind-gut connection, the role that nutrition plays in one’s mental health, and will provide the opportunity to practice building healthy habits into daily routines. Ultimately, the program aims to foster a positive mindset around nutrition with an emphasis on an additive rather than restrictive approach. It also intends to empower adolescent students who participate to explore convenient, nutrient-dense, cost-effective meal prep options in order to meet daily micronutrient and macronutrient recommendations.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact marisa.donatti@bcm.edu or jasmine.pendergrass@bcm.edu. 

The Honors College at the University of Houston, University of Houston Non-Honors
Jacobson Family Foundation Schweitzer Fellows

Thrive Learning is committed to delivering hands-on learning experiences centered around STEAM topics to medically fragile children and siblings housed at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston. RMHC provides housing for families traveling to receive medical treatment in the Texas Medical Center. Their project aims to provide educational continuity while fostering children’s engagement with learning by hosting a summer camp, facilitating bi-weekly hands-on STEAM workshops, and providing daily after-school tutoring throughout the school year.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact ataleopi@cougarnet.uh.edu, sjagann2@cougarnet.uh.edu, or imaosunde@gmail.com.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry

Askew is hosting career exploration workshops at Yes Prep Charter Schools, chosen for their mission to empower all Houston students to succeed. These workshops aim to empower students to pursue doctoral degrees or other careers of interest by exposing them to healthcare professionals who can inspire them and give relevant advice. Askew also plans to give them a blueprint to make their dreams of becoming a healthcare professional a reality.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kellie.c.askew@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School
The Lemonade Day Schweitzer Fellows

Ayerbe and Ranganath are addressing children’s entrepreneurial and personal development in underserved areas around Houston by partnering with Lemonade Day to host sessions that mentor elementary-level students to cultivate the skills required to plan and run their own lemonade stand. This organization hopes to increase self-esteem, a sense of entrepreneurship, and financial literacy in children who do not get exposure to it otherwise.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact camila.ayerbe@uth.tmc.edu or shreyas.ranganath@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Project H.E.A.R.T. is an initiative designed to support adolescents and their parents at The Bridge Over Troubled Waters by providing education on healthy and unhealthy relationships using the ‘Love Notes’ curriculum from The Dibble Institute and the ‘Me & You’ curriculum from UTHealth Houston. The project aims to empower participants to make informed decisions about their relationships and sexuality, promoting resilience and healthy interpersonal dynamics.

This project will be continued outside of the Fellowship as a program through UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Amber.Z.Barrow@uth.tmc.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine

The mission of The Wonder Lab is to address the educational and social needs of pediatric patients at Texas Children’s Hospital undergoing treatment for their chronic health conditions by bringing the joys of STEM into the lives of patients and their families. Each week, a mobile cart is brought into the Hematology/Oncology Infusion Center and Dialysis Unit, where medical student volunteers perform science experiments with children, tailoring explanations to an age-appropriate level.

This project will be continued outside of the Fellowship as a program through the Baylor College of Medicine.​

Baylor College of Medicine
Jacobson Family Foundation Schweitzer Fellows

Afterschool Aces at Buckner Family Hope Center are creating personalized weekly health and wellness lessons for parents and children. They hope to empower families by providing them with effective tools to manage their health challenges.

Due to overwhelming interest, this project is not taking any new inquiries to continue this project.

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

John and Patel are working to establish medical mentorship opportunities for high-school students from a public school in Fort Worth that has a high percentage of low-income students. Through hosting educational activities and mentoring events, as well as a student-led community health fair, this program aims to promote student awareness of the breadth of professions in healthcare, broaden students’ understanding of their community’s health needs, and increase students’ knowledge of general health evaluations (ex., how to read blood pressures at home). Ultimately, the program aims to improve students’ self-efficacy and confidence to graduate from high school and encourage a career in the health professions.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact sharonjohn3@my.unthsc.edu or purveepatel@my.unthsc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Kodali and Mechem are addressing social-emotional health in Houston by working with YES Prep Brays Oaks Secondary School to implement social-emotional learning curricula with at-risk students. The project aims to target and address inequities in social-emotional learning by creating small group environments with regular lessons to discuss healthy relationships and self-regulation skills and improve future success both in the classroom and in their future careers.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact sahana.kodali@uth.tmc.edu or gracelyn.k.mechem@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School
The Mack and Cece Fowler Schweitzer Fellows

Mansoorshahi and Pottinger are working on preventing childhood injuries within the family home. By meeting families in their homes and providing age-appropriate safety screenings, education, and child-proofing materials, they hope to give parents all the tools to keep their kids safe. The ultimate goal of Safety First is to restore a sense of control and stability for the entire family unit at New Hope. By creating a safer living environment for their children, they hope to minimize child accidents and adverse outcomes and, in doing so, support the parents in feeling more confident in achieving their goals towards improving their future.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact sara.mansoorshahi@uth.tmc.edu or briana.r.pottinger@uth.tmc.edu.

The University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work

Martinez is working to improve population health through education regarding relevant topics for adolescent girls, such as reproductive health, mental health, wellness (12 dimensions model), stress management, coping skills, healthy relationships, harm reduction, and nutrition. The program is designed to empower young girls in underserved areas to improve their overall wellness.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mmart202@cougarnet.uh.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Kevin and John are addressing social-emotional health in Houston by working with YES Prep Public Schools to implement social-emotional learning curricula with elementary students. The project aims to work with at-risk students to improve social-emotional health through targeted interventions, with the goal of improving students’ academic performance, classroom behavior, and self-regulation skills. 

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kevin.h.shi@uth.tmc.edu or john.shin@uth.tmc.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine – Texas Children’s Hospital (Schweitzer Scholar)

Dr. Fagundes is addressing sexual health literacy and sexual empowerment for adolescents and emerging adults currently incarcerated at the Harris County Juvenile Department of Corrections by creating a sexual education curriculum. She will do this by providing a medically sound and evidence-based sexual health curriculum focused on the individual claiming their own power over their bodies. Ultimately, she aims to decrease rates of sexually transmitted infections, educate on safe sex practices, and create guides to resources in the community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kiely.fagundes@bcm.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine – Pediatrics Residency Program (Schweitzer Scholar)
The Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston Schweitzer Fellow

Dr. Heng is addressing inadequate access to healthcare and health literacy by providing lectures and discussions about healthcare within the field of pediatrics. By working with the Afghan Women’s Empowerment Group established by Interfaith Ministries, she hopes to provide caregivers with additional support on raising their children, mitigate the adverse outcomes of the trauma that they have experienced, and connect them to resources within the community. Since many of these families do not regularly access healthcare providers, Dr. Heng also hopes to provide the anticipatory guidance that is given during routine well-child visits.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact yiyan.heng@bcm.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine – Pediatrics Residency Program (Schweitzer Scholar)
The New Hope Housing Schweitzer Fellow

Dr. Mahendran is addressing adolescent health in Houston by implementing a longitudinal workshop series for teen girls currently experiencing homelessness. The workshops, held at a local housing center, will focus on topics vital to healthy adolescent development, such as sexual health, body image, and mental wellbeing. Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences with the group as well as privately reflect using written or other mediums. Ultimately, the workshops will aim to foster a sense of confidence amongst the participants and equip them with the tools necessary to move into young adulthood with confidence.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mxmahend@texaschildrens.org.

UTMB School of Health Professions

Cahalane, Reckart, and Shen are addressing health inequalities among unhoused communities in Galveston by collecting and distributing items for seasonal care kits. They are partnering with a local clinic, Grace Clinic, which supports unhoused or underinsured individuals through healthcare. Grace Clinic continues to provide physical therapy services and address the various needs of this population throughout the seasons.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact ancahala@utmb.edu, aereckar@utmb.edu, or brshen@utmb.edu.

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Dronamraju is addressing barriers to access to social services in Galveston by assisting with ID applications and resource navigation for the unhoused and underserved community. Ultimately, the program aims to increase access to social services such as employment, housing, healthcare, etc, through acquiring identification documents and addressing their well-being with resource navigation

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact nedronam@utmb.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Stratemann and Garner are addressing the non-medical drivers of health in those experiencing homelessness in Houston by using a mobile referral platform, Unified Care Continuum Platform (UCCP) by the Patient Care Intervention Center (PCIC), that helps connect the unhoused population to social and medical service providers to meet their needs. With this project, Stratemann and Garner hope to expand the number of HOMES Clinic student volunteers, grow understanding of the available resources for this population, and help reduce demand on homelessness agencies.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact merrick.a.garner@uth.tmc.edu or carlie.stratemann@uth.tmc.edu.

Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine

Nanda and Somawardana are addressing the need for improved efficiency and maintenance of medication availability in a student-run free clinic by designing a supply tracking system for the clinic. This project will entail the design of a software/hardware solution to ensure a constant supply of medicine and supplies without requiring manual input from volunteers and staff. They aim to help the clinic track the use of medications without any lapse in supplies.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact rijulnanda@tamu.edu or isuru@tamu.edu.

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Siddiqi is addressing the elevated use of tobacco products among clients who have previously experienced homelessness at SEARCH Homeless Services. He is building a tobacco cessation program at the agency to equip clients and employees with knowledge, resources, and free evidence-based treatments to empower them to overcome addiction and thereby reduce the disproportionate tobacco-related morbidity and mortality they experience.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact ads15@rice.edu.

Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine

Bara and Pennathur are addressing the community needs in Southwest Houston by improving healthcare accessibility and establishing community services at Shifa Clinic. Ultimately, the project will aim to bolster Shifa’s services and increase engagement to build long-lasting support for the community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact rasha.bara@tamu.edu or harini@tamu.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Texas A&M School of Medicine

Becerra and Rivas are working as Patient Navigators with the PCIC platform to close gaps in access to resources in newly immigrated, Spanish-speaking populations by working with patients at the Casa Maria Clinic. These gaps include being unfamiliar with the United States healthcare system, lacking the resources to access healthcare/financial assistance programs, and being unfairly excluded from these resources due to language, education, and financial barriers.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact gabriellasbecerra@tamu.edu or alexis.l.rivas@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Karpe, Lama, and Tran are addressing Houston refugee women’s health and socioeconomic needs through a tailored, interactive curriculum. In addition to guiding and educating participants to access social, economic, and health resources, the program will introduce innovative elements such as role-playing, journaling, and experiential learning to enhance engagement and develop community and social support.

Due to overwhelming interest, this project is not taking any new inquiries to continue this project.

Texas Woman’s University
Manne Family Fellow

Perkins is collaborating with the nonprofit organization FAM Houston to address healthcare access gaps among the refugee population in Houston, Texas. Together, they will design and implement a care companion navigator program to increase the number of refugees who are connected to community resources, have health insurance, and receive evidence-based primary care

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact jperkins6@twu.edu.

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Quan is improving accessibility to the continuum of comprehensive healthcare and health literacy for immigrant children and their families by creating multilingual instructional videos. These videos help families understand and navigate the local healthcare system. The plan includes screencast videos covering essential topics such as scheduling medical appointments through MyChart or arranging transportation. The goal is to transform these barriers into clear pathways, making it easier for families to navigate into care.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact flora.t.quanchan@uth.tmc.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Jacobson Family Foundation Schweitzer Fellows

Ai and Seaborn are leading a support group for LGBTQIA+ adults at Covenant House Texas, a temporary shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. This legacy project will expand on previous social, physical, and mental health aims by adding sessions on accessible cooking, healthy relationships, and goal-setting so that positive, lifelong wellness practices and self-advocacy can grow.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact david.ai@bcm.edu or lyra.seaborn@bcm.edu.

UTMB School of Public and Population Health

Brahmbhatt’s mission is to increase the capacity of the Galveston-area public health community to prevent and respond to Hexavalent Chromium releases due to both intentional and accidental causes. He seeks to assess the current risk of a release, identify the populations that may be affected, and ensure first responders and UTMB’s medical staff are adequately prepared to treat potential patients.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kubrahmb@utmb.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
The Valach Family Foundation Schweitzer Fellows

The Patient Navigation Project seeks to connect residents at New Hope Housing with community resources to address specific health care needs. Cluck and DeSplinter will use PCIC’s database and 1-on-1 meetings with families to help residents wade through the complexities of the healthcare system and facilitate access to preventative care.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact madeleine.cluck@bcm.edu or lindsey.l.desplinter@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

In collaboration with Texas Jail Project, Voices Behind Bars is a project focused on advocating for the rights of all individuals in Texas jails, with a particular emphasis on those in pre-trial detention and incarcerated individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability, and pregnant people.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact caroline.j.crain@uth.tmc.edu.

University of Houston Honors College

Yasmeen will lead a wellness initiative for middle-aged, low-income residents, focusing on nutrition and physical health, through microwave cooking demonstrations, an herb garden project, and low-impact exercise workshops to empower participants to take control of their nutrition and physical well-being. This holistic approach aims to foster long-term health-promoting behaviors in the community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact yasmeenelfeki25@gmail.com.

Texas A&M University
The Sue Smith and Craig Brown Schweitzer Fellow

Sharief is advancing wellness and preventative health for middle-aged and older, low-income adults at New Hope Housing in Houston, Texas, through a year-long community initiative. The JumpStart Health initiative will allow Sharief to lead nutrition classes with cooking demonstrations and teach budget-friendly grocery shopping strategies. Additionally, Sharief is offering innovative tools to support mental health, such as fitness and art-based classes. This initiative is designed to empower residents to make sustainable lifestyle changes, fostering lasting habits that enhance their physical and mental well-being. By creating a culture of health and resilience, JumpStart Health aims to transform lives and uplift the community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mariam_sharief03@tamu.edu.

The University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
The New Hope Housing Schweitzer Fellows

McCall and Medrano’s project aims to assist families facing challenges in navigating the healthcare system by helping and connecting them to different resources they may need in order to find providers, schedule appointments, access health insurance, coordinate transportation, and more. By leveraging existing resources at New Hope Housing, like the Reed Family Clinic, they strive to alleviate barriers to accessing health services and improve care coordination using the PCIC database.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact amccall3@cougarnet.uh.edu or jmedra24@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Baylor College of Medicine
The Mack and Cece Fowler Schweitzer Fellows

Thapar and Xie are addressing mental health concerns in end-of-life care at the VA hospital by pairing up medical students with veterans in palliative care to help write a memoir of their lives. Students will meet with their assigned veteran on a regular basis to interview them, which will allow for a meaningful connection at the end of life, ultimately culminating in a wonderful hard-copy memoir that will be distributed to the veterans’ families free of charge.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact ruhi.thapar@bcm.edu or michael.xie@bcm.edu.

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine
TIRR Memorial Hermann Schweitzer Fellow

Voices of Care aims to improve psychological health, as indicated by self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, among caregivers of individuals with disabilities through mindfulness-based expressive arts. Additionally, the project hopes to deepen clinical appreciation of caregiver experiences by providing opportunities for sharing between caregivers and healthcare professionals.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact shrumall@utmb.edu.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Hoang and Kashyap are addressing health disparities in Houston by establishing a wellness program for persons with mental and/or physical disabilities at Brookwood. Their goal is to establish and sustain an inclusive wellness program that aims to promote the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities through a rotation of interactive activities, including but not limited to adaptive fitness classes, nutrition planning, and oral hygiene promotion. Ultimately, the program serves to encourage physical movement, foster creativity, and promote mindfulness, further contributing to the overall well-being and holistic development of the community’s residents.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact stephanie.han.n.hoang@uth.tmc.edu or alisha.kashyap@uth.tmc.edu.

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Ali, Tyagi and Wong are working with the Dan Arnold Low Vision Center to expand in-person and online support group modalities for low vision patients. They are also creating a blog with compiled resources and podcast episodes diving deeper into the experiences of low vision patients.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact amna.m.ali@uth.tmc.edu, mallika.tyagi@uth.tmc.edu, or calvin.w.wong@uth.tmc.edu.

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Gurram and Nanduri are addressing the need for a diverse set of sustained creative therapies at the Houston Aphasia Recovery Center by leading humanities-based arts sessions. They aim to bring activities involving dance, singing, musical instruments, and various artistic media to the “Creative Connections” program. The ultimate goal is to increase the quality of life of people with aphasia, as well as their confidence in creative skills.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact rsnandur@utmb.edu or algurram@utmb.edu.

Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine
Memorial Hermann Katy and Cypress Schweitzer Fellow

Based at the UT Spina Bifida Clinic and the RSVP (Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Project) Clinic, this legacy project addresses the gap between resource awareness and utilization in the disability community, specifically among adult patients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations, as well as pediatric patients with spina bifida. Volunteers will engage in 15-30-minute conversations with patients to understand the social and economic resources they are lacking and then connect them.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact emily.minner@tamu.edu, aamukthap@tamu.edu, or sydney.zhou@tamu.edu.