Spring 2009 - Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

►FELLOWS FOR LIFE NETWORK
KEEPS GROWING……..……2
ISSUE 1
VOLUME 4
Spring 2009
►FELLOW LISTENS TO
COMMUNITY……………...…3
►FELLOWS OUTREACH TO THE
HOMELESS …………………5
UPCOMING SCHWEITZER
EVENTS ON BACK COVER
Chicago
Schweitzer Fellows
Fellow’s Project Goes Beyond Education
For my Schweitzer Fellowship project, I have the privilege of teaming
with Urban Initiatives in an effort to boost the academic performance,
physical fitness, and character development of children from Schiller
Elementary School in Chicago's Cabrini-Green community. Through
our soccer program and health curriculum, we strive to accomplish
these goals at soccer practice before and after school.
This winter, we learned that Schiller Elementary would be closed at
the end of the school year and consolidated with the other remaining
elementary school in the Cabrini community.
This was rather difficult news on a number of levels for the students,
school staff, and community. For one, there is a long and storied
history of gang violence that exists between the 2 schools of proposed
consolidation.
(Cont. on p. 4)
Urban Initiatives provides before and after
school soccer programs, health education, and
promotes academic achievement.
Art Therapy Fellow Nurtures Youths in Transition
As a graduate student in art therapy, I am intensely interested in community-based
mental health work. I feel very fortunate to have come into contact with Lisa
Thompson, the founder and executive director of Blue Sky Inn. Lisa and Blue Sky Inn
volunteers facilitate expressive arts groups as one of many ways to empower homeless
and transitionally housed youth. As a Schweitzer Fellow for Blue Sky Inn, I have
facilitated weekly art groups at Teen Living Programs since May 2008.
At first I found it difficult to attract youth who had a lot going on, including job
searching and working to complete their educations, to art making groups. Many
youth expressed to me that they did not need art, were not interested, and were not
into it. It was continuously challenging to find new ways to engage, excite, and entice
youth. While I did not want to press my agenda or my methods onto youth, I felt a
responsibility for providing motivations that they had never been provided for
engaging in, discovering, and honing their creative voices. Over time, it became clear
to me that the relationships I formed with youth were the most influential components
(Cont. on p. 4)
Shannon Kavanagh, an art therapy
student from the School of the Art
Institute Chicago
2 │ Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Newsletter
Fellows for Life Network Expands In Exciting Directions
Our Chicago Fellows for Life network, launched in 2006, has taken root and become such an important resource for
our alumni and for current Fellows that we now envision it as part and parcel of the original Fellowship Program. In
addition to furthering the leadership potential of our graduates, we also regularly tap their enthusiasm for the Program
to recruit and foster new Fellows, and to promote greater awareness of the Fellowship and Dr. Schweitzer’s idealism.
Chicago Schweitzer alumni who have moved outside the area have helped establish new Schweitzer Fellowship
programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and also Houston. Meanwhile, Fellows from other Schweitzer Programs
around the country and the original Schweitzer Fellowship in Lambarane, Gabon who have settled in the Chicago
area are welcome to attend our alumni events. For example, we are pleased to have met Lambarane Fellow Kohar
Jones and North Carolina Fellow LaTure Hicks at our recent Fellows for Life events.
Schweitzer mentors and nursing student
mentees get acquainted at orientation.
To help address the nation’s serious and growing shortage of
nurses, Fellows for Life and Rush University College of Nursing
are collaborating on a pilot project to provide mentoring support for
underrepresented student nurses. The project involves Fellows for
Life who are in the nursing field who will provide underrepresented
student nurses with guidance, encouragement and support, while
also helping the students develop their leadership capabilities. The
nursing students are the recipients of a scholarship from Rush and
the RWJ Foundation. The timeline for this project is 18 months,
which covers the nursing students while they are completing their
degree work at Rush. The first group of student nurses was
matched with 10 Schweitzer mentors in December 2008. We hope
that this pilot can become a successful model that other Programs
around the country might emulate.
Are people who dedicate so much of their lives to altruistic service susceptible
to “compassion burnout?” The Program office and a group of Fellows for Life
organized a half day retreat on February 7 to help our alumni focus upon their
own stress management and self-care. Wellness coach Sarah Squires led the
Fellows through a wellness/burnout discussion; Dr. Aaron Michelfelder,
Schweitzer Advisory Council member who is on the faculty of the Loyola
medical school, taught an acupressure and self-hypnosis workshop; and Greg
Van Hyfte, a University of Chicago social work student (and now a 2009-10
Schweitzer Fellow) led an introductory yoga class. Local massage therapists
also provided free massages to the participants.
Looking ahead, we will resume a publicly held and advertised “My Life is My
Argument” lecture series, which we successfully started last year. Last year’s
speakers included Alivio Medical Center founder Carmen Velasquez, Music
Theater Workshop artistic director Meade Palidofsky, and Illinois Attorney
General Lisa Madigan. Exemplary individuals from a variety of fields will
similarly be invited this year to talk about their lives of service. The purpose of
the series is to inform and inspire the public about the many ways people
have created change, and to encourage civic engagement. We will
continue to hold regular networking events to enable Fellows from
different program years to meet, interact and share interests. We also
will organize service opportunities and events in summer.
Fellows for Life winter
networking dinner
Lastly, we’re excited that we are hosting the 2009 Schweitzer Fellows for
Life Conference, to be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the
Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront Hotel. The conference will draw an
estimated 200 alumni from all 11 Schweitzer Fellowship programs
around the U.S. as well as the original Schweitzer Fellowship program in
Africa. This will be an excellent opportunity for alumni and current
Fellows to share their best practices and passion for public service.
Spring 2009 │3
youth excited
to attend
Fellow
Learns
from Listening
I designed my Fellowship project to improve the health and lives of
African American mothers and infants. My project stemmed from
my understanding of the social determinants of health and the stark
statistic that African American infants are 2-3 times more likely to
die before their first birthday than White infants. I developed
doula-training classes, hoping to help underserved women create an
empowering birth experience, and was surprised when the
workshops were sparsely populated. Listening to women and
reflecting on the social circumstances presenting challenges in their
lives taught me a humbling lesson: empowerment is difficult when
women lack agency and resources to meet their basic needs.
I recognized that there was a disparity between the needs I
identified within the community and the needs identified by these
women. This lesson changed my project to emphasize the role
women play as the experts in their own lives, thereby respecting
them as uniquely capable of identifying their own health needs.
My goal of improving women’s and children’s health remained
constant, but the project improved and evolved into a partnership of
sharing health needs, health education, ideas and skills, with each
encounter reflecting the unique needs and ideas of individual
women.
-Lisa Wangerien, 2008-09 Fellow
Lisa is a UIC Nurse-Midwifery student.
She will serve as a mentor for next year’s Fellows.
Lisa with a child
wearing a “Back
to Sleep”
campaign one-sy,
an infant safety
campaign she is
promoting to her
clients.
Lisa worked with the Courtney family (above) in
her doula classes. She attended their birth.
Symposium on Access to Specialty Care Exposes Safety Net Gaps
From left to right:
Dr. Torrey Wilson,
Dr. Harvey Wigdor and
Dr. Bechara Choucair
On Oct. 23, a group of Fellows organized a symposium concerning “Cook County Health Care: Access to Specialty
Care Services.” The panel included Dr. Harvey Wigdor, Department of Dentistry at Illinois Masonic Hospital; Dr.
Torrey Wilson, Clinical Psychology Dept. at Argosy University; and Dr. Bechara Choucair, Heartland International
Health Center and Northwestern University. The presentation was instrumental in helping the Fellows and their
audience understand the limitations of the current health care safety net and the serious implications for uninsured and
underinsured individuals who must rely upon it, especially the working poor. “As a second year medical student who is
especially interested in primary care for vulnerable communities,” said Fellow Ben Preyss, “I learned a lot about the
current state of affairs for specialty care in the safety net. I definitely plan to use the information and insight to shape
my medical training and my future goals as a physician.”
Approximately 80 people attended, including Dr. Terry Mason, Health Commissioner of the City of Chicago, and Mr.
Warren Batts, newly appointed Director of the Cook County Health & Hospital System. Both Dr. Mason and Dr. Batts
spoke at length during the Q&A period, and many audience members addressed questions to them as well as to the
panel members. The symposium was taped by a television crew from a local cable access channel for later broadcast.
4 │ Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Newsletter
Fellow’s Project Goes Beyond Education (cont.)
More importantly, the academic and overall student
performance at Schiller has been dramatically improved
over the last year – progress that may now be at stake
with the proposed closing and consolidation.
With that in mind, I was asked to speak on behalf of
Urban Initiatives and Schiller Elementary at the Public
Hearing Process for the school. In front of the Chicago
Public Schools Board, I outlined Urban Initiative's
presence in the school and the belief that Schiller is
succeeding in building a healthier, brighter future for its
“In front of the Chicago Public
Schools Board, I outlined Urban
Initiative’s presence in the
school and the belief that
Schiller is succeeding in
building a healthier, brighter
future for its students.”
Schiller Elementary School faces closure.
students. I also was fortunate to witness a few of my
own players testify.
The chances are slim that the school will remain
open. In all likelihood, it will be closed – another
sign of the ongoing redevelopment of Cabrini-Green.
It's my hope though, that Urban Initiatives and our
players can be a force of integration and improved
performance during the consolidation process.
- Ben Preyss, 2008-09 Fellow
(Ben is a UIC Medical Student)
Art Therapy Fellow Reflects on Helping Youth in Transition (cont.)
of their decisions to attend groups. Several months ago, youth started to
approach me to share the poetry, writings, and visual art they’d made
outside group. While getting youth excited to attend group has been an
off-again, on-again struggle, there are also times when I arrive at Teen
Living and youth tell me to hurry up and get the group started because
they’ve got to express what they’re feeling.
As part of the proposal for the Schweitzer Fellowship, we were asked to
provide ideas for sustainability and ways to measure the success of the
project. I had expected to be operating in terms somewhat like group
psychotherapy and found that youth had other ideas about what they
wanted to use groups for. Art making and processing were used for a
different purpose and went to different depths every week, depending
upon who showed up. What I had to offer as a resident artist and art
therapy student seemed neither purely pragmatic nor easily measurable,
and I soon came to realize that I didn’t have a very strong sense of what
sustainability meant at this site. Near the end of this experience, it has
seemed that doing my part to nurture a culture in which the words and
images of youth are honored and carefully witnessed will create
sustainable relationships between youth and their art.
-Shannon Kavanagh, 2008-09 Fellow
Shannon is a School of the Art Institute of Chicago art therapy student.
She will be serving as a mentor for next years’ Fellows.
“…(at times) the
youths tell me to
hurry up and get the
group started because
they’ve got to express
what they’re feeling.”
Spring 2009 │5
Fellows Address the Needs of the Homeless
Service Day, Spring, 2009
A group of Fellows organized
a toiletries drive for the Night
Ministry to help ensure
homeless clients receive
supplies they need. Personal
care products aren’t covered
by food stamps or other
governmental programs, and
are difficult for The Night
Ministry’s clients to afford.
Jenny Tsang, a UIC medical
student, speaks with clients of
The Night Ministry where she
conducted her project to promote
nutrition and healthy food options
for the homeless population.
Merlyn Chua, a St. Xavier nursing student, takes a
blood pressure reading at Fourth Presbyterian
Church’s drop-in health clinic for the homeless.
Graduating Fellows Share Best Practices with New Class
The Program asked the 2008-09 Fellows to provide their insights
and best practices so that future Fellows could benefit from their
experiences.
Fellow Sophie Hermann, a UIC medical student who taught health
education to youths at KIPP Ascend Charter School promoting
healthy choices, advised the following:
“In thinking about best practices, my first piece of advice for future
Fellows is to really think about your project proposal before you
start working on the project. Many of the problems that arise later
in the year come from not having a clear idea of what you want to
accomplish and how your organization/site will support you.
Along with this idea, it is beneficial to do a project that capitalizes
on skills you have already developed and knowledge that you
have. This allows you to focus on a few areas of growth, rather
than learning a whole new area in 9-12 months.
Also, if you can build on the work of past Fellows, by using their
contacts, connections, curricula, by all means do it! It does not
make you less of a Fellow or your project less awesome if you use
prior work, in fact it makes you a smarter, leaner, more efficient
Fellow!
As final tidbits of reflection on my year, two of my favorite
aspects of Schweitzer, and things that I would encourage
Fellows to appreciate, are taking part in the range of
activities, speakers, and events that encompass Schweitzer
and also to enjoy the people that you meet at your site and in
the Schweitzer program. All of those things will be some of
your best memories and outcomes of the program.”
Build on the
work of past
Fellows, by
using their
contacts,
connections,
curricula.
- Sophie Herman
6 │ Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Newsletter
Fellows at Work in Chicago Communities
Christine Shaw, a
PsyD student at
Adler School of
Professional
Psychology at her
project site, the
Chicago Women’s
Health Center.
Maya Graonic, a UIC pharmacy student, at
CommunityHealth, a free clinic for the uninsured
where she helps patients manage their medications.
Ed Gometz,
a University of
Chicago medical
student, taught
health workshops
at the Chicago
Family Health
Center.
Please support the work
of the Chicago Area
Schweitzer Fellows
Program and the
Fellows for Life
Program. Visit:
www.hmprg.org
Laura Granros, a student at the Chicago School of
Professional Psychology, working with a student in her
StoryWorks group at Rachel Carson Elementary School.
Svenya Elackatt,
a UIC nursing
student responds
to calls for a
domestic violence
hotline with
Family Shelter
Services.
Ruth Marshall (center)
a DePaul University
music student,
performs at
Dignity Diner Art
Opening show.
Spring 2009 │7
Congratulations to the 2009-2010 Schweitzer Fellowship Class!
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program has selected the 2009-2010 Schweitzer Fellowship
class. A record number of applicants made this the most competitive year in the Program’s history. We
are excited to welcome 32 students as Fellows, representing 12 universities,18 academic programs and
12 health and human service disciplines. The Fellowship recipients are:
Liz Appel, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
Michelle Ashley, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing
Michael Bennett, UIC College of Nursing
Aldene Brown, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Curtis Calvert, Rush University College of Nursing
Gregg (Cal) Calvird, Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Chandra Campbell, Loyola University Stitch School of Medicine
Tina Damarjian, UIC College of Medicine
Katherine Garlo, Rush University College of Medicine
Meghan Helder, Loyola University Law and Social Work programs
Gihane Jeremie-Brink, Loyola University Psychology program
Sonya Kenkare, UIC College of Medicine
Nathan Kittle, Loyola University Stritch College of Medicine
Erica Koeglar, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
Georgina Lopez, St. Xavier College of Nursing
James Lott, Chicago State University College of Pharmacy
Surajkumar Madoori, DePaul University Public Health program
Denise Maniakouras, UIC College of Dentistry
Sarisha Narayana, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Melanie Odeleye, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Uchenna Ossai, UIC Physical Therapy program
Sangeeta Patel, UIC College of Medicine
Stephanie Price, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Elizabeth Ralyea, St. Xavier College of Nursing
Hajirad Saeed, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Shana Salik, UIC College of Nursing- Nursing-Midwifery Program
Gregory Van Hyfte, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
Sara Van Koningsveld, Columbia College Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling program
Taranee Wangsatorntanakun, Rush University College of Nursing
Justin Welke, UIC College of Dentistry
Amy Yetasook, Rosalind Franklin University Chicago School of Medicine
Feng Zhang, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
The Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program, a collaborative effort of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship and
the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, provides service learning opportunities and support for graduate
level students in health and social service fields interested in working with individuals and communities who are
underserved by the health care system. The Program envisions that the Fellows are embarking upon a lifelong
commitment to serve the most vulnerable members of our society. The Chicago Area Program is one of eleven
nationwide, and is administered by Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. For further information, visit
http://www.hmprg.org, or contact Program Director Ray Wang at 312 372-4292 ext. 24
Chicago Area Schweitzer
Fellows Program
Health and Medicine Policy
Research Group
29 E. Madison, Suite 602
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 372-4292
Ray Wang
Program Director
Janna Stansell
Project Assistant
Margie Schaps
Executive Director, HMPRG
Quentin D. Young, MD
Chairman, HMPRG
Arthur F. Kohrman, MD
Schweitzer Fellowship
Advisor
Advisory Council Chair &
National Schweitzer Board
©2008-09 HMPRG
Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Events
We express our gratitude to:
April 16, 2009 (Thurs.) 6:00pm – Schweitzer Annual Event
Northwestern University
Lurie Research Center, Hughes Auditorium
303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL
For more information, please email [email protected] or call
312-372-4292 ext 24
Alphawood Foundation
June 3, 2009 (Wed.) 6:00pm – Fellows for Life Lecture
Series
Loyola University Chicago, School of Law
th
Kasbeer Hall, 15 Floor
25 E. Pearson Street, Chicago, IL
For more information, please email [email protected] or call
312-372-4292 ext 24
Midwestern University
June 20, 2009 (Sat.- tentative) – Fellows for Life
Community Service Day
More information soon.
Oct. 17, 2009 (Sat.) – Fellows for Life National Conference
Embassy Suites- Chicago Lakefront
For more information, please visit
http://schweitzerfellowship.org/ or email [email protected]
or call 312 372-4292 ext. 25
Start early to instill in your students an awareness
that they are on this earth to help and serve others.
Baxter International
Foundation
Michael Reese Health Trust
Northwestern University
Polk Bros Foundation
Rosalind Franklin
University
Rush University
University of Chicago
University of Illinois
at Chicago
The VNA Foundation
and the many individuals
and families who support
the Schweitzer Program.
- Albert Schweitzer
2009 Fellows for Life Conference - October 17, 2009
Embassy Suites - Chicago Lakefront
511 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL
Support the next generation of leaders in health and service!
How to get involved:
Ads placed in our Conference program from
supporters like you help maintain our leadership
development programs that instill a dedication to
service in the next generation of health and human
service professionals.
In addition to providing much needed financial support to our programs, your ad will be seen by
over 200 health professionals, as well as nationally recognized individuals from across the country.
Prices:
Full page (8 ½” x 11”): $400
Quarter page (2” x 2 ¼”): $150
Web Only (with link to your website): $75
Half page (4 ¼” x 5 ½”): $250
Name Only in Sponsor List: $75
To place an ad, Contact Bethye Vodicka at (617) 667-3172 or [email protected].
For more information about the Conference, visit:
http://www.schweitzerfellowship.org/features/who/news/index.aspx?id=201