Previous Fellows and Projects

Naveed's project Leave No Vet Behind served veterans with a disability who are denied VA benefits for reasons such as the absence of a service connection or the character of discharge. This project identified veterans in the Upper Valley in need of support, assessed their needs, and found ways to address them through existing federal programs

Naveen and Evan developed a program that improved health care for individuals with mental health issues living in the Upper Valley. Through their program, Dartmouth Medical students worked with psychiatrists to screen and interview mental health patients in several different settings. Ultimately, Krishnan and Lebovitz developed and integrated a mental health module into the first-year On-Doctoring curriculum at Dartmouth Medical School.

Nayrana and Alexander expanded primary care services at the Upper Valley Haven.

Katia and Nez improved access to health services for migrant Hispanic farm workers living in Lamoille County, Vermont. They assisted local health workers in delivering culturally competent services

Nicholas and Pablo created a program for students in a Manchester, New Hampshire high school to introduce them to the benefits of entering into a health care profession. They conducted a series of conferences and lectures; introduced students to medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals; and provided mentorship through Geisel's Urban Health Scholars Program.

Nicholas and Raghav created experiential encounters between the homeless population of Burlington, Vermont and the medical community to build understanding between these populations, and to co-create memories through meals, music, and stories. Their goal was to facilitate these opportunities without the traditionally attendant power dynamics, and to do so under the guidance, experience, and leadership of homeless individuals.

Nico and Serena expanded Tiny Tastes, an early education curriculum that exposes young toddlers to the tastes and textures of a variety of whole foods. They created additional educational resources for childcare centers, schools, partner organizations and parents.

Nicole helped to establish to a dental clinic for low-income persons as a companion to a previously established free health clinic, the Good Neighbor Health Clinic (GNHC). The Red Logan Dental Clinic opened in August 1996.

Noorin and Kristina sustained and expanded the mobile syringe access program in Franklin County, Vermont, by reducing the incidence of fatal overdoses and infections. They established greater communication and engagement between the Larner College of Medicine, UVM Medical Center, and people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Working in partnership with the Vermont Superior Court, Noura provided advocacy and support to survivors of sexual assault who are seeking legal protection.

Olga and Maricruz brought healthcare, self-improvement and self-awareness workshops to inmates at a women's prison in the NH/VT area. They also served as a liaison between the prison and the medical community, setting up one session per month to be taught by a local healthcare worker on a topic chosen by the women.

Patrick helped community members achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle. They worked with the "Upper Valley Trails for Life" and physicians at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, designing exercise treatments for patients that could be integrated into a hectic daily schedule.

Paul worked with People Helping Improve South Royalton"s Health (PHISH) to bring essential health services and other related resources into the South Royalton community. He established a community operated nonprofit organization that ensure that the local community's needs will continue to be met, educate the community about available resources and how the community can access these resources, and establish connections with other nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for community support.

Peter and Anastasia delivered comprehensive, culturally competent health literacy education to refugee groups in Burlington.

Piyush developed Bedside Brainiacs, a program designed to minimize the educational gap caused by hospitalization for children, especially for those who are chronically ill. The program accomplished this goal by providing daily tutoring during a hospital stay, ensuring that the children did not miss their class assignments. The tutoring also reinforced previously learned material and allowed children to engage in daily cognitive activities.

Quoc worked with the Vermont refugee community in negotiation techniques. She trained elderly, adult, and refugee youth in negotiation techniques in order to reduce intergenerational conflict between refugee youth and their parents or grandparents.

Rachel developed and expanded the VLS Buddies mentoring program, which matched students at South Royalton School with buddies at VLS.

Rachel helped children ages 6 to 9 develop their interest in engineering and science by introducing the junior FIRST Lego League in area elementary schools.

In an effort to learn about the issues of aging to foster an ethic of service to our elders, and to forge relationships across generational lines, Rachel engaged Dartmouth medical students and residents of Kendal at Hanover, a residence for senior citizens, in one-on-one relationships and discussion on issues of aging in society. This project led to the development of a group to revise the DMS curriculum's approach to geriatric issues.

Rajdeep conducted monthly community-wide classes to teach basic CPR techniques and promote primary prevention of cardiogenic death.

Ramzi and Arati presented information about recognition, treatment, and recovery of strokes to high-risk communities throughout the Upper Valley. They formed and trained an undergraduate student group to continue the work of raising awareness and understanding about strokes.

Randi reorganized Teen Court in order to expand the numbers of teenagers served and further develop the connection with students at UNH School of Law.

Rebecca and Shannon provided a forum for the imprisoned women of Vermont to identify and articulate the unique needs that result from their experiences of sexual assault both within and without the state's correctional system. They worked in collaboration with the women, community groups, and state agencies to develop and implement a sexual assault protocol for use in the Vermont prison system.

Rebecca and Shilpa conducted health education workshops with women prisoners at the correctional facility in Waterbury, VT. They raised the self-esteem of women prisoners by enabling them to take a leadership role in educating peers about health issues and educated the women about positive choices available to them when they leave the facility.

Rebecca worked to further community involvement in the implementation of watershed and river quality protection laws. She conducted workshops through several local environmental groups, including the UVM extension service, and revised the citizen's guide to watershed protection.

Reiko and Matt designed and delivered sexual health education specific to the needs of LGBTQ youth.

Renee organized the Home Visitor Volunteer program, in which medical students provided home care and companionship to recovering stroke patients. The program provided respite for primary care givers, companionship for patients and home visiting experience for medical students.

Renee addressed the needs of rural domestic abuse victims by working with the Have Justice-Will Travel legal staff to provide direct services for clients. Additionally, she researched the development of a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) module within northern Windsor and Orange County. The CCR module creates a protocol for communication between agencies and organizations dealing with issues of domestic abuse, increasing their overall effectiveness in preventing violence and responding to situations of abuse.

Rezwan expanded the capacity of non-profits and social service organizations in the Upper Valley area by creating a group of students from different disciplines at Dartmouth who provided consulting services.

Robert worked to encourage collaboration between parents of deaf children and professionals who treat them. He applied his own personal experience to his concept of most effective training and teaching for children and their parents.

Robert developed a health education curriculum based upon a comprehensive needs assessment; began to create a network of support for the Male Offenders Health Education Project (MOHEP.) Students created MOHEP in 1994 and faculty from DMS, with a goal is to empower inmates with information about health care in order to make more informed decisions about their health.

Robin implemented yoga and meditation programming for senior citizens and cancer patients.

Rose and Kristen fostered middle-school-aged girls" interest in science and engineering. They partnered with FIRST ("For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology"), an organization that runs elementary to high school level robotics competitions. Finally, they assisted in the organization and subsequent expansion of New Hampshire Girl's Connect, a robotics day camp for girls.

Rosie and Emi created GrandPals, an intergenerational friendship program that connected elementary school children with neighboring seniors to alleviate feelings of social isolation among seniors. Participants worked on art projects, read books, shared stories and made memories together.

Ryan and Julia educated mental health patients and providers on advanced directives in order to shift health care decisions from the courts to the patients. By employing the "Ulysses Clause," patients dictate their treatment preferences when they have decision making capacity, in the event that this lucidity may be lost.

Sabrina, Gregg, and Mary created life journals with Hospice residents through the Healing at the End of Life Project, to help dying patients explore and record their lives and to help these patients and their families communicate and find closure.

Jonathan and Sadhana initiated a comprehensive nutrition program for pregnant women with opioid use. The program comprised three components – an initial nutritional assessment, demonstrations of simple recipes, and creation of an evolving cookbook that addresses mother's specific needs and the needs of their families.

Salma and Timothy's project provided health and substance prevention education to middle and high school students in Vermont and New Hampshire. They also trained medical students on educational pedagogy to enable them to deliver effective health education to patients and the community.

Salwa established a database and reporting tool for the hotline service at Women Helping Battered Women, Inc., the largest service in Vermont created to support victims of domestic violence.

Samara provided an opportunity for all children to learn about two crucial aspects of being an aware citizen in our country: first, the ability to actively participate in a team-building atmosphere, and second, the skills needed to help protect the earth and the environment. She also empowered children to cooperate as a team and solve problems they may not have been able to solve on their own.

Sanchit conducted a pilot program, the My Voice-Print [MVP] Project, designed to record the stories, ideas, and experiences of terminally ill patients in their own voices. This project provided the participants with a sense of purpose, allowed them to leave another element of their legacy for their loved ones, and hopes to allow them to reconcile many experiences with their families and loved ones.

Sara, David, and Spencer continued the ongoing effort to establish an Environmental Law Clinic at Vermont Law School to serve as resource and advocate for local communities and individuals facing public health and environmental problems.

Sara and Cara facilitated mindfulness activities, such as yoga and painting and sensory jars, for the children at the Sara Holbrook Community Center Elementary Afterschool Program. The program taught children mindfulness tools to reduce stress and foster emotional and physical wellbeing.

Sara built a Wilderness Therapy Program devoted to providing children, adolescents, and adults experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties with an alternative mental health treatment method. This was a collaborative effort between outdoor educators and clinical professionals.

Sarah addressed the health care experiences of people with physical and intellectual disabilities by supplying future health professionals with the skills and knowledge to deliver such experiences effectively. She aimed to develop an elective course focused on caring for special needs populations at Dartmouth Medical School.

Through multi-cultural pre-natal classes, Sarah and Emily bridged the gap between birthing practices in Burlington refugee communities and in American culture.

Sarah improved land use management for the Department of Corrections in Windsor, Vermont.

Saurabh evaluated information management needs of various community health organizations and developed a flexible, user-friendly set of free website tools which helped meet those needs. She also helped service agencies, who might not be able to afford professional website design services, increase administrative efficiency and organizational continuity by having an attractive and up-to-date web site.

Scott encouraged underserved high school students to develop leadership skills and expose them to the legal profession by developing a mock trial team program to be implemented at under-resourced high schools lacking the funding or time to run one on their own.

Seamus developed a multilateral special education initiative with an objective to create a cooperative, cross-mentoring network among parents, educators, attorneys, legislators, administrators, and developmentally disabled students in central New Hampshire.

Selin, John, and Arash assessed the health-related needs and concerns of the current Vermont refugee population. They also educated health care providers about cultural barriers to health care among local refugees.

Shahid and Dipak created a sustainable Cardiovascular disease Awareness and Risk Reduction Education (CARRE) program specifically targeting the five leading causes for increased cardiovascular disease risk, including: hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity. With intensive support and education, this program helped participants to adopt the following five behaviors for heart healthy living: maintenance of a healthy weight and heart-healthy diet, regular

Shannon and Laura protected and improved the overall quality of the White River watershed and the environment and health of the community through which it flows. They worked with non-profit groups, government agencies, and citizens to research and aid in the development of community-based plans designed to minimize the effects of agriculture related nonpoint source pollution on the local watershed.

Shannon and Michelle continued to develop and expand Pierce Pals, a program which pairs Pierce Law students with local learning-disabled students as mentors.

Shannon worked as a health educator with the Women-to-Women Program, a project of the New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition, to help Latina women learn about health care issues and help them access the U.S. healthcare system.

Sharie volunteered at the Family Place with supervised visitations and identified the impact of domestic violence on children. She researched and identified Vermont's statutes regarding child custody and developed a proposed new statute.

Shilpa and Nicholas developed and implemented the Patient Partnership Program, a service learning program in which Dartmouth Medical students were paired with individuals from the Upper Valley community facing a long-term health-related challenge such as chronic illness or cancer.

Shirin and Roy created and implemented a cultural competency program at Dartmouth Medical School. This program equipped and empowered DMS students with the ability to provide the best possible healthcare to their patients regardless of the color of their skin or cultural background.

Shravan and Luke designed and implemented an integrative computer literacy program for low-income/homeless guests at the Burlington Emergency Shelter.

Shreyan facilitated knowledge about health and nutrition among middle school kids. He identified topics that mattered to the students and presented them in a way that was interesting, fostering peer-to-peer teaching as well as formal presentations.

Kenneth and Shuaibu further developed Upper Valley STEM Scholars by fostering conversations about race and equity with high school students using STEM as the medium. They facilitated opportunities that allowed Upper Valley students to gain exposure, engagement and mentorship in STEM fields.

Sophia raised awareness of sustainability, waste reduction, and composting among students in the Burlington High School. She further developed visual tools and activities to demonstrate the magnitude of waste produced, ways to reduce waste, and why it is important to reduce waste.

Stacey created the Green Mountain Volunteer Music program, which gathers musicians in the community to perform for terminally ill patients at Fletcher Allen Hospital and at Respite House.

Stanley designed a resource guide for health and health related services in the Upper Valley in conjunction with the Good Neighbor Health Clinic. He also published a pocket guide for low-income residents in the area and to publish a web-based resource.

Good Neighbor Health Clinic: Stephanie and Begem expanded a case-management diabetes program for high-risk patients who face socioeconomic barriers to regular checkups and counseling. They followed the care of current diabetes patients coming to monthly diabetes clinics at GNHC, and helped them to establish and keep track of individualized health goals. Finally, they created a sustainable program and a chronic care model for GNHC with ongoing assessmenst to measure how the program is affecting patient progress.

Stephanie improved the overall health of un- and underinsured Upper Valley residents and their families by creating and expanding a dental education program at the Red Logan Dental Clinic. The program provided information about proper dental hygiene, nutrition (including the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Kids Countdown), and smoking/tobacco cessation so that after un- and underinsured individuals receive dental services, they are empowered to maintain their oral health for a longer period of time

Stephanie grew the client and volunteer base and raised community visibility for Rutland Volunteer Garden Service, a program launched by Schweitzer Fellow M. Kate Thomas, that that pairs teens and seniors to provide gardening help and promote cross-generation connections.

Steven and Alyson introduced meditative techniques into pediatric and adult palliative care facilities as a source of non-medicinal pain-management and spiritual exploration, healing and closure for patients and families. They also educated medical students in the area of palliative care and pain management.

In collaboration with Vermont mobile legal clinic Have Justice Will Travel, Susan worked with local health practitioners to evaluate the health care needs of women who are associated with a history of domestic violence.

Suzannah addressed the health of children and adults with special needs by running an outdoor summer arts program. The program included a focus on healthy behaviors and drew on the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Kids Countdown. It culminated with a community arts festival on the town green and a collaborative sculptural project.

Tamar created an in-home program to provide respite care for families of children with special medical needs.

Tawnya volunteered at the Good Neighbor Health Clinic in White River Junction, VT, as clinic manager In addition, she designed community outreach projects to deliver health education and information about clinic services in unconventional settings in the community (supermarkets, community events) and she recruited Dartmouth medical students to strengthen operations at the clinic.

Ted, Rob and Isaac worked with the Covered Clinic to increase healthcare access to the underserved farming population surrounding Burlington through clinics and educational events. They established this initiative as a permanent component within the College of Medicine, sustained by future classes of medical students.

Teresa volunteered at a local law firm that is doing pro bono work for a grassroots organization, REACH. REACH worked to pass legislation that prohibits construction and demolition materials, which release quantities of lead and mercury into the environment when burned, from being incinerated in NH.

Thai and Kelly translated and conducted a healthcare needs assessment aimed at the Vietnamese population in Burlington by surveying patients at the Community Health Center, local clinics, private practices, and individuals not currently using any medical services. They utilized the information gathered to develop appropriate health education materials.

Theodore addressed environmental health by working with landlords in South Royalton, Vermont to improve energy efficiency, and bring the "community greening" model to other towns in the state.

Theresa worked at The NeighborKeepers' Circles of Support program which works towards eliminating the isolation of generational poverty for low-income families within the Burlington community. The NeighborKeepers' Nutritional Literacy project will develop interactive activities and educational resources on nutrition. These resources were used by the families and their partnered Allies, who are volunteers.

Thomas, using the model established by Diane Henkels, pursued a Good Neighbor Agreement project designed to integrate economic growth and environmental conservation while fostering new business opportunities.

Tianrae worked with teenagers at a local youth center to promote an understanding of healthy relationships, consent and safe sex. The program aimed to counteract the impact that using internet-based pornography has on shaping sexual attitudes.

Tim designed, built, mapped and advertised a permanent nature trail on the DHMC grounds. The trail gives DHMC patients, visitors and staff the opportunity to rejuvenate themselves during physically and emotionally difficult times.

TingJia and Emi created "Girl Power" mentoring program at Indian River School. They established peer-mentor relationships between 6th grade girls and 8th and 10th grade role models and empowered the girls with skills to develop their confidence, healthy behaviors, and leadership skills.

Tracey increased dental health awareness in the Upper Valley area of Vermont. She worked with area schools, dentists and dental health professionals to inform adults and children of the important connection between their overall health to their dental health status. She also conducted outreach seminars and programs to distribute dental care items and information.

Trevor developed and implemented a health education component for the after-school teen drop-in program (ages 11-18).  He educated the teens on health issues relevant to their lives including smoking, exercise, nutrition, first aid and introduced them to health-related careers that are available in the coming years.

Urvi worked with West Central Behavioral Health in Lebanon, to raise awareness about teen suicide. Urvi also designed and implemented a program through local schools to educate adolescents better about the signs of depression and raise awareness of existing resources in the community for teens battling depression.

Valera collected used books for a local school library, in conjunction with the VLS legal book drive, which annually ships 600 – 1000 lbs of donated legal texts to Romania and India. She also taught local school kids the importance of cultural diversity and responsible participation in a global society by teaming up with a Romanian school. Through e-mail and writing, the students worked on a socio-environmental survey of their communities and explored issues of development and our parts as American citizens.

Valerie created the H.E.L.P. project (Healing at the End of Life), a volunteer program and lecture series designed to develop understanding and empathy in medical students toward individuals facing the end of their life.

Victoria and Simrun used photography and personal narratives as a way to amplify the voices of parents recovering from substance use disorder. Using Photovoice, they worked with individual participants to accurately portray the major themes of their recovery.

Victoria supported the elimination of lead-based paint exposure and poisoning of children, through the education of families, daycare providers, and general practice medical personnel in Sharon, Bethel, and South Royalton.

Vikram created a food pantry—with an emphasis on nutrition and healthy eating education—in South Royalton, Vermont.

Vince enhanced the level of care for persons with persistent and severe mental illnesses by compiling a protocol to help healthcare providers better understand the impact of new federal regulations on mental health care access and patient privacy issues.

Virginia and Russel analyzed and reported the data that VCCU had collected since 1996. They provided not only analyzed data but also a reproducible statistical template for the health clinics to ultimately attain funding and to better meet the needs of their patients.

Vivien and Katherine facilitated discussions surrounding sexual health, relationships, and self-advocacy among local teens at the Junction Youth Center to promote healthy sexual attitudes and behaviors. They became trusted confidants to local teens, helping them navigate the confusing worlds of intimacy, relationships, and school.

Will developed and implemented a community outreach program targeting pet owners in underserved communities in the Upper Valley. The program identified dogs and cats who may be living outdoors in substandard conditions and brought needed resources to the pet's home, eliminating barriers to the owner's ability to provide proper care for their animals.

William educated local residents, government officials, and private business about the benefits of smart growth development. He also developed an online community planners' website including technical and legal materials.

Billy and Sarah created a hands-on, classroom, and community outreach curriculum that gives at-risk youth the opportunity to learn vegetable gardening skills, how to maintain a chicken coop, and how to prepare nutritious, affordable, and accessible meals that they can bring back to their families and larger community.

Wynona conducted statistical research on domestic violence in Orange County, Vermont, under the auspices of SAFELINE. She also produced numerous educational materials to educate victims of domestic abuse and to raise awareness of the problem. Have Justice Will Travel was founded based on this work.

Yashekia worked on the DMC (Disproportionate Minority Contact) Project with the New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition. The DMC Project was established in response to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and exists to reduce the disproportionate amount of contact between the juvenile members of minority groups and the juvenile justice system.

Yasin provided research and helped in the preparation for asylum cases for refugees living in the Upper Valley. He also produced brochures and a FAQ for refugees to help them navigate living in the United States.

Yaunek's project addressed physical and mental health needs of seniors and the elderly through low impact fitness and group activities. The methods used included cardiovascular and stretching exercises, dancing, meditation, and group selected games.

Zach and Scott devised an automated notification system to help individuals get to court on the correct day, at the correct time, and prepared to face a judge. Their project addressed the recurring cycle of pre-conviction imprisonment that besets Vermont's most at risk citizens.