From the Clinic to the Community
Schweitzer Scholars Program
What is the Schweitzer Scholars Program?
Since 2019, the Houston Galveston chapter has been the only ASF program in the country to offer the Fellowship to post-graduate trainees. Modeled after the Schweitzer Fellowship, the Scholars Program provides trainees with the infrastructure, support, and training to develop their own community-based projects that address unmet health needs.
With significantly reduced reporting and meeting requirements, as well as a smaller hour commitment, the Scholar Program has been modified to accommodate the demanding schedule of post-graduate training. Scholars are mentored by the Scholar Program Director, Leslie Stalnaker, receive a $1000 stipend and participate in three online workshops on leadership, project management and community relationship building.
By combining leadership training, individualized mentorship and the chance to have firsthand exposure to social determinants of health, this ground-breaking program equips medical residents and fellows with the skills needed to comprehensively address their communities’ critical health needs. Please visit the Current Projects page to learn more about the latest Scholars projects and to connect with any of our current Scholars.
Requirements for Schweitzer Scholars
Questions & Answers
How do Scholars typically fit this in with their demanding schedules?
As a pediatrician leads the Schweitzer Fellowship, we understand the challenges inherent in trying to do a service project at the same time as residency or fellowship training. We have created multiple workarounds for this, including hosting only four meetings throughout the year, making all meetings virtual and recorded, and reducing the project hour requirement to just 100 hours. Additionally, while applicants are more than welcome to create their own projects, we also have a list of agencies excited to work with a Scholar with ideas already laid out for the project. Several of these are designed to take advantage of lighter months like scholarly or outpatient rotations.
What are the subjects covered in the four sessions?
Scholars can choose from a list of 10 meetings that cover topics like trust-building, leadership development, outcomes evaluation, interacting with the media and self-care.
How Much Does ASFHG Provide in Stipends?
Schweitzer Scholars receive a monetary stipend of $1,000.
When will the application open?
Applications open every March and are typically due in early May. For more information about the application process, please go to the Scholars application webpage.
If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a Schweitzer Scholar, please reach out to Scholar Program Director, Leslie Stalnaker, at leslie.stalnaker@asfhg.org and Fellowship Program Coordinator, Nichole Hoang, at nichole.hoang@asfhg.org.
’24-’25 Scholar Projects
Marisa Donatti, MD, MPH and Jasmine Pendergrass, MD
Baylor College of Medicine – Texas Children’s Hospital
The Mind-Gut Connection: Nutrition for Mental WellnessCommunity Site: YES Prep White Oak Secondary School
Site Mentor: Kawana Coulon; Academic Mentor: Dr. Suratha Elango
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 on 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.
Kiely Fagundes
Baylor College of Medicine – Texas Children’s Hospital
Empowering Incarcerated Youth to Take Ownership of Their Sexual Health
Site: Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
Site Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Beyda; Academic Mentor: Dr. Asha Davidson
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 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.
Yi Yan Heng
Baylor College of Medicine – Pediatrics Residency Program
Project Name: TBD
Community Site: Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston
Site Mentor: Praveena Lakshmanan; Academic Mentor: Dr. Karla Fredericks
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.
Maya Mahendran
Baylor College of Medicine – Pediatrics Residency Program
*Let’s Talk About It
Community Site: Reed New Hope Housing
Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Stefani Ricando
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 media. 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.
